Rearview device with moveable head assembly and method of assembling same

ABSTRACT

A rearview device for a vehicle, includes: a moveable mirror head assembly that includes an upper casing element, a lower casing element, and a bezel that carries a mirror glass; a base frame; a motor cradle connected to the upper and lower casing elements; and an actuator assembly attached to the base frame and configured to move the moveable mirror head assembly connected to the articulation assembly via the motor cradle. The actuator assembly is configured to adjust the moveable mirror head assembly inwardly or outwardly and upwardly or downwardly so that movement of the moveable mirror head assembly may be controlled using the actuator assembly to change a field of view in a drive position or to place the moveable mirror head assembly in a park position. The actuator assembly provides a range of angular motion of the moveable mirror head assembly that is greater in the inwardly or outwardly direction than in the upwardly or downwardly direction. Programmable actuator assembly settings for one or more of the field of view in the drive position or the park position of the moveable mirror head assembly are pre-set for selection by a user of the rearview device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.18/470,495, filed on Sep. 20, 2023, which is a continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 17/543,866, filed on Dec. 7, 2021, which isa continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/801,703, filedFeb. 26, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/922,366, filed Mar. 15, 2018, which is a continuation-in-part ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/800,413, filed Nov. 1, 2017, whichis a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/603,751, filed May 24, 2017, which claims the benefit of foreignpriority to European Patent Application No. 16198759.9, filed Nov. 14,2016, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/607,894, filed May 30, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/000,754, filed Jan. 19, 2016, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/022,896,filed Sep. 10, 2013, which claims the benefit of foreign priority toGerman Patent Application No. 102012108480.7, filed Sep. 11, 2012, andis a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/439,188, filed Feb. 22, 2017, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/936,024, filed Nov. 9, 2015, which is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/374,376,filed Jul. 24, 2014 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,181,616, which isa national stage entry of International Patent Application No.PCT/AU2013/000047, filed Jan. 24, 2013, which claims the benefit offoreign priority to Australian Patent Application No. 2012900267, filedJan. 24, 2012, and claims the benefit of foreign priority to EuropeanPatent Application No. 16198759.9, filed Nov. 14, 2016, each of which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A COMPACT DISK APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

The following description relates to a head section for a rear viewdevice for a motor vehicle. For example, the head section has casingmeans comprising at least one housing section and a lid section arrangedon a side of the housing section which faces away from a drivingdirection of the motor vehicle, at least one electronic unit arranged ina hollow area formed between the housing section and the lid section, afirst rear view means for displaying a first side or rear area of themotor vehicle in relation to the driving direction, and a second rearview means for displaying a second side or rear area of the motorvehicle in relation to the driving direction. The rear view device mayinclude a fixed base assembly provided for arrangement on the motorvehicle and a moveable head assembly attached to the base assembly viaan articulation assembly, the articulation assembly may have a fixedpart rigidly attached to the fixed base assembly and a moveable partrigidly attached to the moveable head assembly, and the articulationassembly may include two articulation axes, the direction vectors of thearticulation axes being independent of each other.

2. Description of Related Art

Mirrors or rear view means, such as those including a camera pod, aretypically exposed to the outside environment when used as a side viewmirror secured to the outside of a vehicle and when used inside avehicle as an internal rear view mirror. Rear view means are typicallymade up of many components which require a number of different assemblyparts and are complicated and expensive to manufacture. In addition,when exposed to the outside environment, rear view means are subject todirt or debris entering within the assembly. In addition, while a rearview means may include improved protection from the outside environmentsuch rear view means fail to provide a full and expansive field of viewincluding a wide angle view as may be desired by a driver for viewingthe driver's blind spot.

European Patent No. 2 492 145 B1 describes an external rear view mirrorwith a mirror head and a mirror base, which are covered with at leastone body element in the form of a body frame, a body cap and a mirrorbase cover, and a mirror glass that is installed rigidly relative to themirror head. The mirror head rests on the mirror base, the body cover ofthe mirror head is composed of multiple pieces of the body frame and thebody cap, and the mirror base is equipped with a mirror base cover,where the body cap has an opening designed for the passage of the mirrorbase and the mirror base cover. The mirror base is rigidly connected toa mirror carrier that carries an electrical glass adjustment drive,where the glass adjustment drive is connected to at least one bodyelement.

Another external rear view mirror assembly for a motor vehicle includesa mirror base or foot provided for arrangement on the motor vehicle anda mirror head arranged on the mirror foot as well as a mirror glassaccommodated in the mirror head and arranged rigidly and fixed nonadjustably with respect thereto. Such an external rear view mirror isdescribed in European Patent No. 2 492 144 B1. At least one articulationis provided between the mirror head and the arrangement of the mirrorfoot on the motor vehicle. The articulation includes a total of twoarticulation axes, and the direction vectors of the articulation axesare independent of each other. The two articulation axes are associated,jointly and/or independently of each other for swiveling the mirror headfrom an operating position to a swung-in position and vice versa. Thearticulation axes are also for swinging-in the mirror head in andagainst the direction of motion, adjusting an individual adjustingposition of the mirror glass by adjusting the mirror head depending on,e.g., the seating position and the height of a driver of the motorvehicle. The mirror has a first adjusting drive driven by an electricmotor and associated to a first articulation axis of the twoarticulation axes and a second adjusting drive driven by an electricmotor and associated to a second articulation axis of the twoarticulation axes.

European Patent No. 2 253 510 B1 describes a rearview assembly with amirror frame, mirror base, mirror housing, mirror glass, and glassactuator assembly. Specifically, it describes a method of improving theconnection between components of the rearview assembly by usingadditional connection means to support a rigid fixture of the bezel atthe mirror frame.

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

In an aspect, a compact and easy to manufacture head section for a rearview device is provided. This is provided in that the second rear viewmeans is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section and thesecond rear view means including a combined, single-piece component, andthe lid section includes a polymeric substrate, which is coated with achromium-based reflective coating in the region of the combined,single-piece component for providing the second rear view means in formof a reflective element.

In an aspect, a head section for a rear view device for a motor vehicleincludes a casing means including at least one housing section and a lidsection arranged on a side of the housing section which faces away froma driving direction of the motor vehicle, at least one electronic unitarranged in a hollow area formed between the housing section and the lidsection, a first rear view means for displaying a first side or reararea of the motor vehicle in relation to the driving direction, and asecond rear view means for displaying a second side or rear area of themotor vehicle in relation to the driving direction, where the secondrear view means is arranged on the lid section, with the lid section andthe second rear view means forming a combined, single-piece component,and where the lid section includes a polymeric substrate, which iscoated with a chromium-based reflective coating in the region of thecombined, single-piece component for providing the second rear viewmeans where the second rear view means is a reflective element.

The lid section may include a bezel section in addition to the coated,combined, single-piece component providing a second rear view meanssection.

The polymeric substrate may also be coated in the bezel section.

The coating in the bezel section may include a chromium-based reflectivecoating.

The coating in the bezel section may differ from the coating in thesecond rear view means section with respect to at least one of color andreflectivity.

The housing section and the lid section may seal the hollow area of thehead section from an outside environment over an entire circumference ofthe hollow area, or the housing section, the lid section and the firstrear view means may seal the hollow area of the head section from anoutside environment over an entire circumference of the hollow area.

The at least one electronic unit may be arranged without housing in thehollow area.

The housing section and the lid section may be capable of being lockedrelative to each other at a coupling portion in such a manner that theyoverlap each other.

The housing section and the lid section may form an undercut.

The first rear view means may be capable of being locked relative to thehousing section.

The housing section may include at least one light window, where theelectronic unit has a lighting unit arranged in the hollow area andcomprises at least one printed circuit board and at least one lampsuited for emitting light through the light window.

The housing section may include a first housing part and a secondhousing part, and where the first housing part is a plastic part whichis immediately adjacent to the hollow area and has a coloring which isessentially opaque or non-translucent, and where the first housing partcomprises an opening in the area of the light window.

The second housing part of the housing section may be a plastic partthat is arranged in such a manner that the second housing part lies on asurface of the first housing part which faces away from the hollow area,and is essentially translucent or transparent in the area of the lightwindow.

The first rear view means may be provided with a recess and the secondrear view mean extends into said recess.

The recess may be provided at the end of the first rear view meansfacing away from the motor vehicle.

The recess may be a triangle with smoothened edges.

The lid section may further include a first rear view means section forsupporting the first rear view means.

The surface of the first rear view means section may be at least one offlat, curved and convex shaped.

The surface of the second rear view means section may be at least one offlat, curved and convex shaped.

The first rear view means may include at least one of a coating, achromium-based reflective coating, a reflective element, a displaymeans, a screen, an LED screen and an LCD screen.

The curvature of the surface of the first rear view means section maydiffer from the curvature of the surface of the second rear view meanssection.

At least one of the first rear view means section and the second rearview means section may be inclined.

The lid section may further include a step between the second rear viewmeans section and at least one of the bezel section and the first rearview means section.

The reflective surface of the first and the second review means may bearranged in one plane.

The lid section may further include a first groove between the bezelsection and at least one of the first rear view means section and thesecond rear view means section.

The lid section may further include a first groove between the bezelsection and at least one of the first rear view means section and thesecond rear view means section.

The lid section may further include a second groove or a rim between thefirst rear view means section and the second rear view means section.

The lid section may be uncoated in the region of at least one of thefirst groove and the second groove.

The second rear view means may be a spotter mirror providing a widerfield of view than the first rear view means.

The first rear view means may be configured to be moved at least one ofrelative to the second rear view means and independent from the secondrear view means.

The second rear view means may be or is tilted with respect to at leastone axis.

The tilting angle may lie in the region from −30° to 45°.

The lid section may provide a multi-function backing plate including thesecond rear view means section and a first rear view means section.

The first rear view means section may include a recess for receiving thefirst rear view means, and the second rear view means section is thickerthan the second rear view means section.

The multi-function backing plate may include a shoulder being providedbetween the first and the second rear view means section.

The coating may include an alloy of chromium and a dopant material, thedopant material being selected from the hexagonally close-packedtransition metals, the alloy having a crystal structure of a primarybody-centered cubic phase in coexistence with a secondary omegahexagonally close-packed phase.

The alloy may be a binary alloy of chromium and the dopant material.

The atomic percentage of the dopant material in the binary alloy may bein the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

The dopant material may be selected from the hexagonally close-packedtransition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium,yttrium and osmium.

The dopant material may be selected from the hexagonally close-packedtransition metals zirconium, titanium, cobalt, hafnium, rubidium,yttrium and osmium.

The alloy may be a binary alloy and the dopant material is zirconium,and wherein the atomic percentage of the zirconium in the binary alloyis in the range of from about 4.5 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

The alloy may be a binary alloy and the dopant material may be titanium,and wherein the atomic percentage of the titanium in the binary alloymay be in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to about 5.8 at. %.

The alloy may be a binary alloy and the dopant material may be cobalt,and wherein the atomic percentage of the cobalt in the binary alloy maybe in the range of from about 1.9 at. % to 5.7 at. %.

The coating may have a thickness of at least one of 200 nm or less, 100nm or less, in the range of from 40 nm to 80 nm, in the range of from 50nm to 70 nm, and about 60 nm.

The second rear view means section may be elevated with respect to andoverlapping with the first rear view means section.

The head section may further include an inclined shoulder that isprovided between the first and second rear view means sections such thatthe second rear view means section is elevated with respect to andoverlapping with the first rear view means.

The head section may further include an inclined shoulder that isprovided between the first and second rear view means sections such thatthe first rear view means section is elevated with respect to andoverlapping with the second rear view means section.

The head section may further include a transition surface disposedbetween the first and second rear view means and oriented toward thedriver of the motor vehicle, and a blind spot indicator fixedly securedto the transition surface and oriented toward the driver of the motorvehicle to provide indication to the driver when an object is detectedin the blind spot of the motor vehicle by said blind spot indicatoremitting light toward the driver of the motor vehicle.

The transition surface may have a first edge contiguous with the firstrear view means and a second edge contiguous with the second rear viewmeans.

The first rear view means surface, the second rear view surface and thetransition surface may be integrally formed by the lid section.

The transition surface may form at least one of a discrete step, a rimand a discontinuity between the first and second rear view meanssections.

At least a portion of the transition surface may be at least one oftransparent and semi-transparent.

The blind spot indicator may include at least one of a light sourcelocated behind the transition surface and an indicator displayable onthe transition surface, the indicator illuminated by the light sourcewhen an object is detected in the blind spot of the motor vehicle.

The head section may further include a symbol located on either thefirst or second rear view means surfaces for identifying the indicatordisplayable on the transition surface as a blind spot indicator.

The surface of the first rear view means may have a minimum radius ofcurvature of 600 mm.

The surface of the second rear view means may have a radius of curvaturein the range 200-500 mm.

The at least one of the first or second rear view means surfaces may beflat.

A rear view device for a motor vehicle may include the head section.

In another aspect, a housing section and the lid section tightly sealthe hollow area towards the outside over at least almost the entirecircumference. Due to the fact that the hollow area is surrounded atleast almost over its entire circumference towards the outside, thehollow area is protected against penetration by dirt and humidity. Thismakes it possible to arrange the at least one electronic unit in thehollow area without its own seal. This makes it possible to create acompact design for the head section.

In general, it is feasible to provide the electronic unit with its ownhousing, with which it can be arranged in the hollow area between thehousing section and the lid section. However, it has been shown to beadvantageous when the at least one electronic unit can be arranged or isarranged without housing in the hollow area.

The housing section and the lid section can in general be connected toeach other in any manner required. With one embodiment of the headsection according to the invention, it is provided that the housingsection and the lid section can be locked or are locked relative to eachother at a coupling portion in such a manner that they overlap eachother, and in particular form an undercut. When the lid section and thehousing section form an undercut, it is easily possible to achieve afixed connection of the two components. In particular, in such cases,the housing section and the lid section can be locked to each otherwithout using tools, e.g. by means of clips.

In general, it is feasible to create the coupling portion only insections. Preferably, the coupling portion is designed to surround thecircumference.

It is feasible to make the rear view means relatively mobile in relationto the housing section. This can be the case, for example, when the lidsection and/or the housing section is created at least in sections froma flexible, pliable material, such as a plastic membrane. However, ithas been shown to be advantageous when the rear view means is lockedrelative to the housing section. In such cases, the rear view means canbe set by adjusting the head section.

The rear view means can comprise a component which can be separated oris separated from the lid section. In such cases, the lid section canfor example be adhered, or locked for example by spraying a reflectivecoating on the lid section. In one embodiment of the head sectionaccording to the invention, it is provided, however, that the lidsection and the rear view means comprise a single-piece component.

This makes it possible to reduce the number of components of the headsection.

In general, it is feasible to create the lid section in a disc form.However, it has been shown to be advantageous when the lid section isdesigned as a type of clamp, and comprises a flat portion, which inparticular comprises the rear view means, and at least one edge portionwhich extends transverse or diagonally to the flat portion. In suchcases, the lid section can be locked to the housing section like a clampwith the at least one edge section. The edge section can here beadjacent to the housing section from the inside, or grips the housingsection from the outside.

The housing section and the lid section can be created from any materialrequired. When the lid section and the rear view means include acombined single-piece component, i.e. when the rear view means is partof the lid section, it has been shown to be advantageous when the lidsection comprises a multiple-part component, where the flat portionincludes a first lid part, in particular a plastic part, and the edgeportion comprises a second lid part, in particular a plastic part.

In general, it is feasible that the multiple-part component includes adual-part plastic section. When the lid section has several functions,however, further plastic parts can be provided.

Due to the fact that the edge section can include another plastic part,such as the flat portion, the edge section can be designed to form atight seal. The electronic unit can include a lighting unit for example.The light from the head section generated by the lamp can penetrateoutwards through the light window. In such cases, the electronic unitcan comprise a repeatedly flashing light or lighting for the areaimmediately surrounding a motor vehicle.

With one embodiment of the head section according to the invention, itis provided that the housing section includes a first housing part, inparticular a plastic part, which lies directly on the hollow area andwhich has a coloring which is in particular essentially opaque and/ornon-translucent, wherein the first housing part comprises an opening inthe area of the light window. Due to the fact that the first housingcomponent is opaque and non-translucent, an attractive appearance can beachieved. Due to the fact that an opening is provided in the firsthousing part, the light from the electronic unit can penetrate outwards.

In order to prevent penetration by dirt or humidity, with a furtherdevelopment of the latter inventive embodiment, it is provided that anoptical element, such as an optical fiber and/or light disc, can bearranged in the and/or on the opening of the first housing part of thehousing section and that a housing seal can be arranged or is arrangedbetween the first housing part of the housing section and the opticalelement. Due to the provision of the housing seal between the opticalelement and the opening of the housing section, the hollow area istightly sealed towards the outside. As a result, no separate housing isrequired for the electronic unit.

As a supplement or an alternative to the provision of a housing seal, ithas been shown to be advantageous when a second housing part, inparticular a plastic part, is arranged in such a manner that it lies ona surface of the first housing part which faces away from the hollowarea, and is essentially translucent and/or transparent at least in thearea of the light window. In particular, in the area of the light windowis designed as an optical element such as an optical fiber and/or lightdisc.

Due to the fact that a second housing part is adjacent to the firsthousing part, which in particular covers the opening provided in thefirst housing part towards the outside, no housing seal is required. Dueto the fact that the second housing part is translucent and/ortransparent, light from the electronic unit which is designed as alighting unit can penetrate outwards from the hollow area of the headsection.

The rear view means can comprise a reflective means and/or a displaymeans such as a screen, in particular an LED or LCD screen. When thedisplay means comprises a screen, the screen can be arranged on the flatportion of the lid section. It is furthermore feasible that the lidsection, at least in the portion on which the LED or LCD screen isarranged, is arranged in a transparent and/or translucent manner, andthe screen is arranged on the side of the flat portion of the lidsection which faces towards the hollow area.

The electronic unit may include a setting facility for the rear viewdevice. This makes it possible to set the rear view device in a simplemanner. The setting facility can be arranged on the upper surface of theflat portion of the lid section which faces towards the hollow area.

It has been shown to be advantageous when the setting facility comprisesa setting unit with at least one lighting means which can be locked oris locked relative to a rear view means, and by means of which adirectable or directed light beam can be emitted, which is at leastalmost solely perceivable in a specified operating position by a driverof a motor vehicle and/or a control unit.

The lighting means may include a coiled wire bulb, an LED or a laser.

Due to the fact that the light beam can be detected at least almostsolely in the specified operating position by a driver of a motorvehicle and/or by a control unit, the rear view means is easy to adjustin a position which conforms to the regulations.

In order to enable light to exit, it is advantageous when the housingsection and/or the lid section, in particular the edge portion, includesa transparent and/or translucent area through which the light beamemitted by the lighting means can penetrate outwards at least almostunimpeded.

This makes it possible for light which is emitted by the lighting meansto penetrate outwards from inside the rear view device and to beperceivable from the outside, where in the hollow area of the housing,it is at the same time protected against environmental influences.

The transparent and/or translucent area can in general be designed inany manner required. It is advantageous when the transparent and/ortranslucent area comprises a recess, in particular throughout, and/or atranslucent and/or transparent material such as glass, in particularsmoked glass, or plastic.

In general, it is feasible that the light beam emitted from the lightingmeans is sufficiently bundled in order to be perceivable almost solelyin the specified operating position by the driver of a motor vehicleand/or the control unit. Furthermore, it has been shown to beadvantageous when the setting unit comprises at least one opticalelement which can be functionally assigned or is assigned to thelighting means, with which the light beam emitted by the lighting meanscan at least be bundled.

Furthermore, the object is attained by means of a rear view device, suchas an internal or external mirror for a motor vehicle with at least onehead section, in particular with at least one of the features describedabove.

Finally, the object is attained by means of a motor vehicle with atleast one rear view device with at least one of the features describedabove and/or with at least one head section, in particular with at leastone of the features described above.

The head section according to the invention, the rear view deviceaccording to the invention and the motor vehicle according to theinvention have been shown to be advantageous in many respects.

Due to the fact that the lid section and the housing section surround ahollow area in an almost entirely sealing manner, electronic devices canbe provided in the hollow area which require no housing. As a result,the head section and the rear view device can be compact in design.

In an aspect, an external rear view device for a motor vehicle includesa fixed base assembly provided for arrangement on the motor vehicle, amoveable head assembly attached to the base assembly, an articulationassembly, the articulation assembly including a fixed part attached tothe fixed base assembly and a moveable part attached to the headassembly, and a camera unit immovably secured within at least one of thefixed base assembly or the moveable head assembly, where thearticulation assembly includes two articulation axes, the directionvectors of the articulation axes being independent of each other.

The base assembly may further include a foot providing a spherical seatfor a lower casing element of the head assembly, and frame meansproviding at least one spherical seat for the casing, with the framemeans being attached to the fixed part.

The external rear view device may further include a camera connectorwhich is positioned in a non-moving area of the fixed base assembly andreceives the camera unit.

The external rear view device may further include a camera connectorwhich is positioned in a non-moving area of the moveable head assemblyand receives the camera unit.

The external rear view device may further include a glass element and alens, where the camera is configured to obtain a rear view image throughthe glass element and obtain an image underneath the mirror through thelens.

The external rear view device may further include a lower casingelement, an upper casing element, and a removable cassette bezel,wherein the removable cassette bezel comprises a lower mating portionconfigured to hingedly attach to the lower casing element and an uppermating portion configured to fit into the upper casing element.

The external rear view device may further include an upper cradle and alower cradle, and the upper cradle and the lower cradle are attached tothe moveable part of the articulation assembly.

The external rear view device may further include a fixed case frame,the fixed case frame comprising a hole for receiving a joint attachmentbetween the upper cradle and the lower cradle, wherein the fixed caseframe is configured to absorb downward load applied on the external rearview device to protect the articulation assembly.

The fixed case frame may include a shape corresponding to a shape of thearticulation assembly so that the fixed case frame wraps around andcovers a side of the articulation assembly.

The articulation assembly may be configured to adjust the rear viewdevice between an outboard drive condition, a standard drive condition,a park condition, and positions therebetween.

In another aspect, an external rear view device for a motor vehicleincludes a fixed base assembly provided for arrangement on the motorvehicle, a moveable head assembly attached to the base assembly, anarticulation assembly, the articulation assembly including a fixed partattached to the fixed base assembly and a moveable part attached to thehead assembly, a lower casing element. an upper casing element, and aremovable cassette bezel, where the removable cassette bezel comprises alower mating portion configured to hingedly attach to the lower casingelement and an upper mating portion configured to fit into the uppercasing element, and where the articulation assembly includes twoarticulation axes, the direction vectors of the articulation axes beingindependent of each other.

The external rear view device may further include a camera unit and acamera connector which is positioned in a non-moving area of the fixedbase assembly and receives the camera unit.

The external rear view device may further include a camera unit and acamera connector which is positioned in a non-moving area of themoveable head assembly and receives the camera unit.

The external rear view device may further include a glass element and alens, wherein the camera is configured to obtain a rear view imagethrough the glass element and obtain an image underneath the mirrorthrough the lens.

The external rear view device may further include an upper cradle and alower cradle, and the upper cradle and the lower cradle are attached tothe moveable part of the articulation assembly.

The external rear view device may further include a fixed case frame,the fixed case frame comprising a hole for receiving a joint attachmentbetween the upper cradle and the lower cradle, wherein the fixed caseframe is configured to absorb downward load applied on the external rearview device to protect the articulation assembly.

The fixed case frame may include a shape corresponding to a shape of thearticulation assembly so that the fixed case frame wraps around andcovers a side of the articulation assembly.

The articulation assembly may be configured to adjust the rear viewdevice between an outboard drive condition, a standard drive condition,a park condition, and positions therebetween.

In an additional aspect, an external rear view device for a motorvehicle includes a fixed base assembly provided for arrangement on themotor vehicle, a moveable head assembly attached to the base assembly,an articulation assembly, the articulation assembly including a fixedpart attached to the fixed base assembly and a moveable part attached tothe head assembly, an upper cradle and a lower cradle, the upper cradleand the lower cradle being attached to the moveable part of thearticulation assembly, and a fixed case frame including a hole forreceiving a joint attachment between the upper cradle and the lowercradle, where the fixed case frame may be configured to absorb downwardload applied on the external rear view device to protect thearticulation assembly, and where the articulation assembly includes twoarticulation axes, the direction vectors of the articulation axes beingindependent of each other.

The articulation assembly may be configured to adjust the rear viewdevice between an outboard drive condition, a standard drive condition,a park condition, and positions therebetween.

In other aspects, it is at least one object of the present invention tofurther develop the known external rear view device to enhancefunctionality and efficiency while at the same time reducing size andcosts.

This object is solved by a foot of the base assembly providing aspherical seat for a casing, in particular a lower casing element, ofthe head assembly, and frame means providing at least one spherical seatfor the casing, with the frame means being rigidly attached to the fixedpart or part of the fixed part.

According to an aspect of the invention, the base assembly may includean attachment part for the attachment to the motor vehicle, with theattachment part carrying a control system for the articulation assembly,the attachment part guiding cables from the interior of the motorvehicles to the interior of the foot, or the attachment part closing thefoot at its end opposite its spherical seat.

The base assembly may include a carrier part for the attachment of thefixed part of the articulation assembly or of a fixation part of theframe means, with the carrier part extending from the spherical seat ofthe base assembly, or the carrier part guiding the cables from insidethe foot through a cable exit into the head assembly.

The carrier part may be at least partly arranged within the fixationpart, or the carrier part may be attached to the fixation part by ascrew or clip connection and/or by a bayonet attachment.

The frame means may include a support part supporting the fixed part ofthe articulation assembly, preferably by at least partly encompassingthe fixed part, with the support part in particular having a ring shape,and/or by a clips or snap connection.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are characterized in that theframe means includes a first spherical seat for the lower casing elementand a second spherical seat for an upper casing element of the casing.Preferably, the first and second spherical seats of the frame means areprovided by extensions arranged at opposite ends of the fixation part oron the side of the support part facing away from the fixed part of thearticulation means.

The first spherical seat may be provided by a first extension facingaway from the fixed part of the articulation means and a secondextension facing towards the moveable part of the articulation means.Preferably, the support part and the first and second extensions form apart of a ring with a cut-out providing a rim facing towards themoveable part of the articulation means.

It is preferred that the fixation means is provided with a cable exit,with the cable exit of the fixation means being aligned with the cableexit of the carrier part, the cable exit of the fixation means beingarranged on the side of the fixation means facing away from the fixedpart of the articulation means, or cables exiting the cable exit of thefixation means being connected to at least one camera or at least onelight unit at least partly arranged within the head assembly.

The lower casing element may have a first spherical seat cooperatingwith the spherical seat of the foot and/or a second spherical seatcooperating with the first spherical seat of the frame means, withpreferably the first and second spherical seats of the lower casingelement being provided by a base part of the lower casing element.

The lower casing element preferably has an attachment part fixed to themoveable part of the articulation assembly. Preferably, the attachmentpart extends substantially perpendicularly to the base part of the lowercasing element. The attachment part and the frame may be arranged onopposite sides of the unit provided by the fixed and the moveable partsof the articulation assembly. Preferably, the attachment partencompasses the moveable part at least partly, or preferably theattachment part and the moveable part are connected via a clip, plugand/or snap connection.

The attachment part may be provided with a part ring for partlyencompassing the moveable part of the articulation assembly, withpreferably the part ring being provided by a cut-out determined by thepart ring provided by the support part and the first and secondextensions.

The unit may be an actuator for a reflective element, in particular inform of mirror element, being attached to the attachment part.

The lower casing element may carry the upper casing element or thecamera, and a bezel may be attached to the lower and upper casingelements with the bezel preferably surrounding the reflective element.

Furthermore, due to the movable mirror head and to provide a consistentfield of view, a camera may be located either within the base assemblyor on a fixed component within the mirror head. The location within thebase provides a greater impact protection. Being positioned within thehead on a fixed component, the camera is directed to view through theglass and/or to view under the mirror through a lens in the lower casingelement where it is protected against environmental influences.

Attached to the lower and upper casing elements, the bezel may carryvarious required legal glass types and provide the final locking systemto control the head assembly retention and alignment of the mirror headcomponents. The bezel may house a number of functions or features suchas lights, warnings or heating elements.

The articulation assembly may be surrounded by an additional bracketmounted to the fixed case frame and a cradle mounted to the lower casingelement allowing rotational movement inboard/outboard and up/down toprovide additional support. In particular, rotational downward load maybe exerted on the mirror head, with a case frame ring acting as theinboard and outboard stops.

In addition, the articulation assembly may also set the mirror head to afold park condition, i.e. the folded position of the mirror when the caris parked, utilising the full range of movement. The articulationassembly can be a single 2 axis actuator or a combination of 2 singleactuators, positioned independently along the mirror rotation axis, withor without intelligences. A separate memory module may be incorporatedas well.

In an aspect, a head assembly of an external rear view device, inparticular in the form of a mirror head of an external rear view mirror,can be articulated inboard/outboard and up/down using an articulationmeans. In particular, the articulation means may be a glass actuator,around a spherical joint, with spherical seats being provided betweenparts moving relative to each other such that they can rotate around twoarticulation axes perpendicular to each other having a common jointpoint. This ensures the maintenance of current end user functionalitywhile offering significant smaller mirror size, with a reduction of sizeup to 30%. In addition, the unique layout of the internal mechanism withits spherical seats enhances packaging and performances.

The articulation assembly may also be supported and protected for impactusing the spherical seats, in particular due to the arrangement of framemeans between the articulation assembly and a casing of the headassembly. Because the casing is assembled from several casing elements,one of which is secured to the moveable part of the articulationassembly, this improves the weight distribution and reduces totalhousing frontal area on the vehicle which in turn improves aeroperformance and, thus, provides a higher fuel efficiency.

The pivot system used for the rear view device of an aspect of theinvention with the single pivot point for two articulation axes permitsa mirror adjustment while providing dynamic mirror performance andmirror impact support.

In a further aspect, a rearview device for a vehicle includes a moveablehead assembly, an actuator assembly comprising a fixed part and amoveable part, the moveable part being attached to the head assembly,and a motor cradle configured to attach the actuator assembly to themoveable head assembly.

The moveable head assembly may include a lower case and the actuatorassembly is attached to the lower case of the moveable head assemblyusing the motor cradle.

The lower case may include one or more vertical fixation lugs, the motorcradle may include one or more cradle projections, and the one or morevertical fixation lugs may be configured to engage the one or morecradle projections in response to the motor cradle being attached to thelower case.

The motor cradle may be configured to attach to the lower case using aturn and snap connectivity.

The motor cradle may further include one or more cradle teeth and theone or more cradle teeth of the motor cradle may be configured to engageone or more corresponding gaps formed in a ring of the actuatorassembly.

The rearview device may further include a cradle clamp configured toclamp the actuator assembly to the motor cradle.

The cradle clamp may include one or more clamp cams configured to bereceived by a space formed between the actuator assembly and the motorcradle, the one or more clamp prongs may be configured to be received bya space formed between the actuator assembly and the motor cradle, andthe one or more clamp clips may be configured to clip on tocorresponding features of the motor cradle.

The rearview device may further include a light module which is attachedto the lower case.

The light module may include one or more tabs and one or more clips, thelower case may include one or more tab receiving portions, and the oneor more tab receiving portions of the lower case may be configured toreceive the one or more tabs of the light module.

The light module may be configured to lock and attach to the lower caseby pressing the light module on the lower case and sliding the lightmodule with respect to the lower case.

A method of assembling a rearview device for a vehicle includesproviding a moveable head assembly, an actuator assembly including afixed part and a moveable part, and a motor cradle. And attaching theactuator assembly to the moveable head assembly using the motor cradle.

The moveable head assembly may include a lower case, and the method mayfurther include attaching the moveable head assembly to the lower caseusing the motor cradle.

The lower case may include one or more vertical fixation lugs and themotor cradle may include one or more cradle projections, and the methodmay further include engaging the one or more vertical fixation lugs withthe one or more cradle projections to attach the motor cradle to thelower case.

The method may further include attaching the motor cradle to the lowercase by turning the motor cradle and snapping the motor cradle into thelower case.

The motor cradle may further include one or more cradle teeth, and themethod may further include engaging the one or more cradle teeth of themotor cradle to the one or more corresponding gaps formed in a ring ofthe actuator assembly to attach the actuator assembly to the motorcradle.

The method may further include providing a cradle clamp including toclamp the actuator assembly to the motor cradle.

The cradle clamp may include one or more clamp cams configured to bereceived by a space formed between the actuator assembly and the motorcradle, one or more clamp prongs configured to be received by a spaceformed between the actuator assembly and the motor cradle, and one ormore clamp clips configured to clip on to corresponding features of themotor cradle.

The method may further include providing a light module which isconfigured to be attached to the lower case.

The light module may include one or more tabs and one or more clips, thelower case may include one or more tab receiving portions, and themethod may further include engaging the one or more tab receivingportions of the lower case with the one or more tabs of the lightmodule.

The method may further include locking and attaching the light module tothe lower case by pressing the light module on the lower case andsliding the light module with respect to the lower case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description,will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appendeddrawings. For the purpose of illustration, certain examples of thepresent description are shown in the drawings. It should be understood,however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangementsand instrumentalities shown. The accompanying drawings, which areincorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustratean implementation of system, apparatuses, and methods consistent withthe present description and, together with the description, serve toexplain advantages and principles consistent with the invention.

Further features, details and advantages of the invention are explainedin the appended claims, in the drawings and in the description of apreferred embodiment of the head section according to the inventiongiven below.

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a schematic profile view of a firstembodiment of a head section for a rear view device.

FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a schematic profile view of a secondembodiment of the head section with an electronic unit arranged in thehollow area.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a third exemplary embodiment of thehead section with a housing section including two housing parts.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a front view of a fourth embodimentincluding a lid section having first and second rear view means.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a lid section of afifth embodiment including first and second rear view means.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a multi-functionbacking plate provided by a lid section of a sixth embodiment includingfirst and second rear view means.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a cross section of a part of a lidsection and a rear view means of a seventh embodiment of a head section.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of a base assemblyof a rear view device.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are diagrams illustrating two perspective views of thebase assembly of FIG. 1 having frame means attached thereto, as viewedfrom two different sides.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams illustrating perspective views like FIG.9A with an articulation assembly and an articulation assembly as well asa lower casing element being attached, respectively.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams illustrating perspective views of thebase assembly of FIG. 1 with the lower casing element and the lowercasing element plus the articulation assembly being attached,respectively.

FIGS. 12A and 12B are diagrams illustrating perspective views of thebase assembly to which the frame means, the articulation assembly andpart of the casing are attached, as viewed from two different sides.

FIG. 13 is a diagram illustrating a door-to-door mirror in the priorart.

FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating the same mirror in a sectionperpendicular to the first section.

FIGS. 15A to 15C are diagrams illustrating a first solution of a rearview device according to an aspect of the invention.

FIGS. 16, 17 and 18 are diagrams illustrating a view of an aspect of theinvention without a housing

FIGS. 19 and 20 are diagrams illustrating a mirror foot.

FIG. 21 is a diagram illustrating another solution of a rear viewdevice.

FIG. 22 is a diagram illustrating an exemplary embodiment of an externalrear view arrangement for a motor vehicle in a partially sectioned frontview.

FIG. 23 is a diagram illustrating an external rearview arrangement fromFIG. 22 in a partially sectioned side view.

FIG. 24 is a diagram illustrating another exemplary embodiment of anexterior rearview arrangement for a motor vehicle in a partiallycut-away front view.

FIG. 25 is a diagram illustrating the external rear view arrangementfrom FIG. 24 in a partially sectioned side view.

FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating a further exemplary embodiment of anexternal rearview arrangement for a motor vehicle in a partiallycut-away front view.

FIG. 27 is a diagram illustrating yet another exemplary embodiment of anexterior rearview arrangement for a motor vehicle in a partiallycut-away front view.

FIG. 28 is a diagram illustrating yet another exemplary embodiment of anexternal rearview arrangement for a motor vehicle in a partiallycut-away front view.

FIG. 29 is a diagram illustrating yet another exemplary embodiment of anexterior rearview arrangement for a motor vehicle in a partiallycut-away front view.

FIG. 30 is a diagram illustrating yet another exemplary embodiment of anexterior rearview arrangement for a motor vehicle.

FIGS. 31A and 31B are diagrams illustrating a front view of a cameralocated within the base assembly and a respective section view along theline 6 b-6 b illustrated in FIG. 6A.

FIG. 32 is a diagram illustrating a side cross-sectional view of thehead assembly with a camera located on a fixed base frame.

FIG. 33A is a diagram illustrating a side cross-sectional view of a headassembly depicting the way of attachment of the cassette bezel.

FIGS. 33B and 33C are diagrams illustrating side sections views of thefront of a head assembly with two possible attachment types of thecassette bezel.

FIG. 33D is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of the headassembly with the cassette bezel being attached thereto.

FIG. 34A is a diagram illustrating a side view of a support mechanismfor the articulation assembly inside the head assembly.

FIGS. 34B and 34C are diagram illustrating sections views of FIG. 9A.

FIG. 35 is a top down section view of the head assembly depicting thevarious head conditions achieved by a single 2 axis articulationassembly.

FIGS. 36A and 36B are diagrams illustrating a top down section view ofthe head assembly with a articulation assembly of 2 single actuators anda respective section view.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a plan view of a fixed glass mirrorassembly with the mirror head in the drive position on the left side andthe mirror head in the fold position on the right side.

FIGS. 38A, 38B, and 38C are diagrams illustrating a fixed glass mirrorassembly with a combined side turn indicator module and blind spotmonitor module as a common assembly.

FIGS. 39 and 40 are diagrams illustrating an actuator having motor jacksof different lengths to allow for increased horizontal axis movement anddecreased vertical movement.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating attachment of a motor cradle and alower case of a rearview device via turn and snap connectivity.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating attachment of an actuator assembly andthe motor cradle of the rearview device of FIG. 41 .

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating attachment of a cradle clamp, themotor cradle, and the actuator assembly of the rearview device of FIG.41 .

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the cradle clamp atdetail A of FIG. 43 after engagement with the motor cradle and theactuator assembly of the rearview device of FIG. 41 .

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the cradle clamp,the motor cradle, and the actuator assembly of the rearview device ofFIG. 41 after attachment.

FIGS. 46 and 47 are diagrams illustrating attachment of a light modulesuch as a side turn indicator (STI) unit with the lower case of therearview device of FIG. 41 .

Throughout the drawings and the detailed description, unless otherwisedescribed, the same drawing reference numerals will be understood torefer to the same elements, features, and structures. The relative sizeand depiction of these elements may be exaggerated for clarity,illustration, and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader ingaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses,and/or systems described herein. Accordingly, various changes,modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/ormethods described herein will be suggested to those of ordinary skill inthe art. Also, descriptions of well-known functions and constructionsmay be omitted for increased clarity and conciseness.

The term “rearview” is here defined as a view of the surrounding area,which is not in the field of view of the driver, i.e. the directionsopposing, left, right, below and above of the viewing direction, but canalso comprise the view in the direction of the viewing direction of thedriver and/or any combinations of the directions.

The term “driver” and “driver of the vehicle” relates here to the personcontrolling the main parameters of the vehicle, such as for exampledirection, speed and/or altitude, e.g. normally the person located inthe location specified for the controlling person, for example a seat,but can also relate to any other person or entity within or outside ofthe vehicle.

The term “entity” relates here to any biological and non-biological lifeform, material and/or machine, which can gather the signals with whichthe vehicle is conveying information and/or induces some kind of actionbased on this signals. This can comprise for example a device, forexample a mechanical, electromechanical, electronic, electromagnetic,optical, chemical or biological device and/or any combination thereof,for example a computer, a robot, an artificial intelligence, but also ananimal and/or a plant.

In addition, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminologyemployed herein are for the purpose of description and should not beregarded as limiting. For example, the use of a singular term, such as,“a” is not intended as limiting of the number of items. Also the use ofrelational terms, such as but not limited to, “top,” “bottom,” “left,”“right,” “upper,” “lower,” “down,” “up,” “side,” are used in thedescription for clarity and are not intended to limit the scope of theinvention or the appended claims. Further, it should be understood thatany one of the features can be used separately or in combination withother features. Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of theinvention will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art uponexamination of the detailed description. It is intended that all suchadditional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included withinthis description, be within the scope of the present invention, and beprotected by the accompanying claims.

The following description refers to a head section for a rear viewdevice to be attached on a motor vehicle as for example described inEuropean Patent No. 2 492 144 B1, European Patent No. 2 492 145 B1, orEuropean Application No. 16198759. Such a head section includes a casingmeans with a housing section and a lid section, at least one electronicunit, and one rear view means. With respect to further details on thehousing section reference is made to U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/000,754.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 , the figures show a head section for a rear viewdevice which is overall assigned reference numeral 2. The 2 can, forexample, include a mirror head of an internal or external mirror. Thehead section 2 includes a housing section 4 and a lid section 6.

FIGS. 1-3 show the head section 2 in a folded out operating position. Inthis position, the housing section 4 essentially faces towards thedirection of driving 8, and the lid section 6 is essentially arrangedfacing away from the direction of driving 8. As can be seen in FIGS. 2and 3 , an electronic unit 10 can be arranged between the housingsection 4 and the lid section 6. This can be locked in a hollow area 12between the housing section 4 and the lid section 6.

With the exemplary embodiments shown in the figures, a rear view means14 is arranged on the side of the lid section 6 which faces away fromthe hollow area 12, wherein the lid section 6 and the rear view means 14comprise a combined component.

The lid section 6 and the housing section 4 surround the hollow area 12over its full circumference and at least almost completely seal ittightly towards the outside. This makes it possible to arrange theelectronic unit 10 without housing in the hollow area 12.

FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment in which the lid section 6comprises a flat portion 16 and two edge portions 18 which extenddiagonally to the flat portion 16. The lid section 6 comprises amultiple-part component which is designed as a dual-part injectionmolded element. Here, the flat portion 16 is formed from a first lidpart and the two edge portions 18 are formed from a second lid part. Thetwo edge portions 18 grip the housing section 4 from outside, whereinthey overlap the housing section 4 in a coupling portion 20. Here, theedge portions 18 includes a lid part which acts as a sealing means 22.Furthermore, the sealing means 22 additionally includes a sealingelement which is designed as an O-ring 24. It should be appreciated thatthe sealing means 22 and sealing element or O-ring 24 that is positionedbetween the lid section 6 and the housing section 4 may also be used inthe second exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2 , the third exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 3 , the fourth exemplary embodiment of FIG. 4 , thefifth exemplary embodiment of FIG. 5 , the sixth exemplary embodiment ofFIG. 6 , or the seventh exemplary embodiment of FIG. 7 .

FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the head section 2according to the invention. In this embodiment, an electronic unit 10 isarranged in the hollow area 12. In the exemplary embodiment shown inFIG. 2 , the electronic unit 10 comprises a printed circuit board 26 anda lamp 28. In order to affix the printed circuit board 26 in the hollowarea 12, a retaining device 28 is provided, which also rests on thehousing section 4. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 2 , thehousing section is formed from a first housing part 30 which is opaqueand non-translucent.

In order to enable light from the lamp 28 to penetrate outwards from thehollow area 12, the first housing part 30 of the housing section 4comprises an opening 32. The opening 32 is part of a light window 34which enables an outward penetration of light from the electronic unit10 which comprises the printed circuit board 26 and the lamp 28 and isdesigned as a lighting unit 36. In order to achieve an attractiveemission of light, an optical element 38 is provided which is arrangedat the opening 32. The optical element 38 can comprise a light fiberand/or a light disc. In order to prevent the penetration of humidity anddirt, a housing seal 40 is arranged between the optical element 38 andthe first housing part 30 of the housing section 4.

FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the head section 2 in whichthe housing section 4 includes a second housing part 42, which isarranged on an outer side which faces away from the hollow area 12 ofthe first housing part 41. The second housing part 42 includes atransparent and/or translucent area, at least in the area of the lightwindow 34.

Due to the provision of a second housing part 42, no housing seal 40 isrequired according to FIG. 2 .

Referring to FIG. 4 , a lid section 100 includes a bezel section 120 anda rim section 180 extending between a first rear view means 300 and asecond rear view means 400 arranged on the lid section 100.

The second rear view means 400 is a so called spotter having a widerfield of view than the first rear view means 300. The first rear viewmeans 300 can include a reflective element in the form of a mirror glasscoated with a chrome or silver layer. However, any other known rear viewmeans can be used instead, such as a display. The second rear view means400 may be provided by a coating on chromium base applied directly onthe lid section 100.

In an example, the lid section 100 can be formed out of a polymericsubstrate with the bezel section 120 and a combined, single-piececomponent onto which the chromium-based reflective coating is applied toprovide the second rear view means. Further details on the coating isdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/439,188, which isherein incorporated by a reference in its entirety for all purposes.

The rim 180 can be provided with a transparent surface to which a blindspot indicator is fixed as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,779,911 B2,which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety for allpurposes.

Further details on the bezel section 120 are illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6 . Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , the bezel section 120′, 120″ can beprovided with an undercut 130′, 130″ for locking the lid section 100′,100″ to the respective, not shown housing section such that the insideof the head section is sealed to the outside in line with the teachingof U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/000,754.

In this example, the lid section includes, in addition to the bezelsection, the combined, single-piece component which is to be coated witha chromium-based reflective coating to form the second rear view means400. In the following, the combined, single-piece component is referredto as second rear view means section 160′, 160″. The respective section160′, 160″ can be flat or curved. In the embodiments of FIGS. 5 and 6 ,the second rear view means section 160′, 160″ is flat and inclined.Between the second rear view means section 160′, 160″ and the respectivebezel section 120′, 120″, a first groove 200′, 200″ can be provided.

Still referring to the examples of FIGS. 5 and 6 , the lid section canalso be provided with a first rear view means section 140′, 140″, thusforming a multi-function backing plate. In the embodiments of FIGS. 5and 6 the first rear view means is moveable together with the secondrear view means as both rear view means are moveable together with acomplete head section due to the fact that the lid section 100 is lockedto the housing section. That is, the entire mirror assembly includingthe housing, the lid, and the one or more rear view means may beadjustable inwardly, outwardly, upwardly, and/or downwardly.

The housing section can comprise two parts to facilitate the assembly ofthe head section. In addition, the housing section can have one or morelight windows as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/000,754.

Even for those embodiments using a lid section which is a multi-functionbacking plate, the first and second rear view means sections 160′, 160″,140′, 140″ can be provided with different curvatures and/or withdifferent inclinations with respect to each other and/or the bezel 120′,120″.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 , there is a step 210′ being providedbetween the two rear view means sections 140′, 160′ such that areflective element providing the first rear view means 300′ can beattached below the second rear view means surface 140′, for example viaan adhesive.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 , there is not only a groove 200″between the bezel section 120″ and the second rear view means section160′, but also between the bezel section 120″ and the first rear viewmeans section 140″. In addition, a second groove 230″ is provide betweenthe two rear view means sections 140″ and 160″.

Independent of whether there is a rim 180, a step 210′ or a groove 230″provided between the two rear view means 300, 300′, 400, 400′, it ispreferred in one aspect that the first rear view means 300 be providedwith a recess 320 into which the second rear view means 400 extends, asshown in FIG. 4 .

In the example illustrated in FIG. 5 , the second rear view means 400may be provided by the chromium-based reflective coating. It is alsopossible to coat the lid section 100 not only in its second rear viewmeans section 160′, but also in its bezel section and/or its first rearview means section. The coatings might be different. In particular, adifferent color could be chosen for the coating in the bezel sectioncompared to the coating in the first rear view means section and/or thesecond rear view means section.

The rim 180, the groove 200′, the groove 220″ and/or the groove 230″ mayor may not be coated. If there is a coating, it might be different fromthe one in the bezel section and/or in the rear view means sections.

The lid section includes a polymeric substrate, which is preferablyinjection molded into the required form. The lid section may not beformed with a first rear view means section, or may be formed with afirst rear view means section which does not extend to the complete areaof the first rear view means, as for example illustrated in FIG. 7 .That is, the lid section 100′″ may include a first rear view meanssection 140″ which has an extension providing a second rear view meanssection 160″, with the respective extension being sufficient for anattachment of the reflective element of the first rear view means 300′″for example via an adhesive layer 310′″. As an alternative, the firstrear view means does not have to be fixedly secured to the lid sectionat all in order to be moveable with respect to the head section of therear view device.

With the simple lid section 100, 100′, 100″ or 100′″ of the invention itis possible to reduce the number of parts and thus the time needed forassembling the head section of a rear view device. In addition, the headsection becomes more compact. It is also advantageous to provide asealed head section in order to reduce the parts needed in connectionwith any electronic unit provided within the head section, in particularby omitting a housing of the electronic unit.

It should be appreciated that the above described head sections may beused with a movable head assembly of an external rear view device havinga base assembly 10, a frame means 20, an articulation assembly 30 and acasing 40. These parts will be described in the following descriptionwith reference to FIGS. 8-12B.

A moveable head assembly of an external rear view device is for exampledescribed in European Patent Application No. 16198759.9, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. Thisapplication describes that a head section belonging to a head assemblyof an external rear view device, in particular in the form of a mirrorhead of an external rear view mirror, can be articulatedinboard/outboard and up/down using an articulation means, in particulara glass actuator, around a spherical joint, with spherical seats beingprovided between parts moving relative to each other such that they canrotate around two articulation axes perpendicular to each other having acommon joint point. This ensures the maintenance of current end userfunctionality while offering significant smaller mirror size, with areduction of size up to 30%. In addition, the unique layout of theinternal mechanism with its spherical seats enhances packaging andperformances.

According to European Patent Application No. 16198759.9, thearticulation assembly is also supported and protected for impact usingthe spherical seats, in particular due to the arrangement of frame meansbetween the articulation assembly and a casing of the head assembly. Thecasing being assembled from several casing elements, one of which issecured to the moveable part of the articulation assembly, improves theweight distribution and reduces total housing frontal area on thevehicle which in turn improves aero performance and, thus, provides ahigher fuel efficiency. Still further, the pivot system used for therear vision device of the invention with the single pivot point for twoarticulation axes permits a mirror adjustment movement while providingdynamic mirror performance and mirror impact support.

Referring to FIG. 8 , the base assembly 1000 may include a foot 1200provided with a spherical seat 1300 from which a shaft type carrier part1400 extends, with the carrier part 1400 being provided with a cableexit 1500. The foot 1200 can be closed at its end opposite the sphericalseat 1300 by an attachment part 1100 discussed with respect to FIGS. 12a and 12 b below.

The base assembly 1000 is fixedly secured to a motor vehicle (not shown)via the attachment part 1100 when in use.

FIGS. 9A and 9B depict the frame means 2000 fixedly secured to the baseassembly 1000. The frame means 2000 is provided by a support part 2100more or less with a ring shape, two spherical seats 2200 and 2500provided by extensions 2200 a, 2200 b and 2500 a and a fixation part2300 into which the carrier part 1400 of the base assembly 1000 isinserted such that the lower spherical seat 2200 in FIGS. 9A and 9B isfacing the spherical seat 13 of the foot 12. The extensions 2200 a, 2200b and 2500 a extend from opposite sides of the fixation part 2300, withtwo lower extensions 2200 a, 2200 b providing a lower spherical seat2200 and the upper spherical seat 2500 being provided by an upperextension 2500 a.

The fixation part 2300 is provided with a cable exit 2400 in alignmentwith the cable exit 1500 of the carrier part 1400. For securing theattachment of the frame means 2000 to the base assembly 1000 a screw(not shown) can be entered into a screw hole 2700 provided by thefixation part 2300 and the carrier part 1400.

As can be seen in FIG. 10A the articulation means 3000 can be attachedto the frame means 2000 by partly inserting a fixed part 3200 of thearticulation assembly 3000 into the support part 2100. The respectivearrangement can be fixed with a clip connection or the like. The fixedpart 3200 is moveably connected to a moveable part 3400 of thearticulation assembly 3000, with the moveable part 3400 facing away fromthe frame means 2000.

The lower extensions 2200 a and 2200 b provide a part ring together withthe lower part of support part 2100 to provide the spherical seat 2200,with a rim 2800 being provided by a cut-out at the end facing themoveable part 3400 of the articulation assembly 3000. The moveable part3400 is provided with attachment means 3500 in form of recesses for theattachment of a casing 4000. FIG. 10B shows the subassembly of FIG. 10Bwith a lower casing element 4200 of the casing 4000 attached thereto.The lower casing element 4200 is provided with an attachment part 4400attached to the moveable part 3400 of the articulation assembly 3000 ina fixed manner in order to move together with the moveable part 3400.For that purpose, the attachment part 4400 is formed with attachmentbosses 4500 shown in FIG. 11A, with the attachment bosses 4500 beinginsertable into the attachment recesses 3500, and with a part ring 4400a for partly encompassing the moveable part 3400 to add strength to theconnection of the lower casing element 42 and the moveable part 34 dueto an enhanced power transmission. Further ribs and the like can beadded to further increase the strength.

As can be best seen in FIG. 10B the part ring 2100, 2200 a, 2200 b andthe part ring 4400 a are complementary to each other to lead to acompromise of the spherical seat 2200 enabling a smooth movement of thelower casing element 4200 together with the moveable part 3400 on theone hand and a strong connection of the lower casing element 4200 to themoveable part 3400 on the other hand.

In addition, the lower casing element 4200 is provided with a base part4600 arranged between the foot 1200 and the frame means 2000, inparticular the lower extension of the frame means. The base part 4600 isprovided with a lower spherical seat 4700 cooperating with the sphericalseat 1300 of the foot 1200 and an upper spherical seat 4800 cooperatingwith the lowest spherical seat 2200 of the frame means 2000.Accordingly, the overall structure is that of three parts spheres withthe inner part sphere provided by the frame means 2000 and the outerpart sphere provided by the foot 1200 of the base assembly 1000 beingfixed, whereas the part sphere provided by the lower casing element4200, and being arranged in the middle can be moved around twoarticulation axes in order to provide an inbound/outboard and up/downmovement. Attached to the attachment part 4400 is a not shown mirrorglass which can thus be moved via the articulation assembly 3000 tofulfil the legal field of view requirements of the rear view mirror.

FIG. 11A provides further details of the relative arrangement of thelower casing element 4200 with respect to the base assembly 1000.

FIG. 11B shows the subassembly of FIG. 11A together with the fixed part3200 and movable part 3400 attached between the carrier part 1400 of thebase assembly 1000 and the attachment part 4400 of the lower casing4200. The articulation assembly 3000 also includes not shown drivemeans, in particular including two motors for the movement of themoveable part 3400 around the two articulation axes, and a controlsystem 3600, for the drive means which is partly shown in FIGS. 12A and12B.

The perspective view of FIG. 12A not only shows the subassembly providedby the base assembly 1000, the articulation assembly 3000 and the lowercasing element 4200, but also an upper casing element 4100 of the casing4000 and a camera 5000 both being attached to the lower casing element4200. FIG. 12B shows the subassembly of FIG. 12A from an opposite side,still without the casing 4000 closed via a non-shown additional casingelement to complete a head assembly 6000. But FIG. 12B shows in additionto the upper casing element 4100 and the lower casing element 4200 abezel 4900 attached to the upper and lower casing elements 4100, 4200.The bezel 4900 surrounds the not shown mirror glass of the completelyassembled external rear view mirror of the present invention.

Still further, the control system 3600 of the articulation assembly 3000is carried by the attachment part 1100. When the attachment part 1100 issecured to the foot 1200, the control system 3600 is completely arrangedwithin the foot 1200. Also arranged within the foot 1200 are cableswhich exit the base assembly 1000 at the cable exit 1500 and reach theinterior of the head assembly 6000 by passing also through to the cableexit 2400 of the frame means 2000 in order to be connected to the camera5000 and other non-shown units like lighting units and the like, whichare arranged within the head assembly 6000.

The head assembly 6000 or rather the mirror head as a whole can bearticulated using the articulation assembly 3000 in particular via themovable part 3400. The movable part 3400 is connected to the drivesystem which can be a part of the control system 3600. The controlsystem 3600 can also comprise memory means for memorizing a position ofthe movable 3400 and, thus, the mirror glass attached thereto via theattachment part 4400.

The support part 2100 is provided in form of an actuator ring which isclipped onto the fixed part 3200 to provide improved support in animpact situation. Due to its upper spherical seat 2500, the frameassembly 2000 is ensuring a smooth movement of the upper casing element4100 which is also provided with an internal spherical seat, not shown.

The arrangement of the support part 2100 with its extensions 2200 a,2200 b, and 2500 a providing the spherical seats 2200, 2500 relative tothe movable upper and lower casing elements 4100, 4200 provide a supportand stiffness in all three directions during dynamic and impactsituations. The result is a smaller mirror system offering the customera unique external rear view mirror weight as well as aero and vehiclefuel efficiency benefit.

Another moveable head assembly of an external rear vision device is forexample described in European Patent No. 2 492 145, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. This patentrefers to an external rear view mirror with a mirror head and a mirrorbase. The external rear view mirror with a mirror head and a mirror baseis covered with at least one body element in the form of a body frame, abody cap and a mirror base cover, and a mirror glass that is installedrigidly relative to the mirror head. The mirror head rests on the mirrorbase, and the body cover of the mirror head is composed of multiplepieces of the body frame and the body cap. The mirror base is equippedwith a mirror base cover where the body cap has an opening designed forthe passage of the mirror base and the mirror base cover. The mirrorbase is rigidly connected to a mirror carrier that carries an electricalglass adjustment drive where the glass adjustment drive is connected toat least one body element. These parts will be described in thefollowing description with reference to FIGS. 13-21 .

FIG. 13 shows a sectional view through the x-z plane in vehiclecoordinates, where x represents the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.The head section or rear view means 501 includes a base 502, which isrotatably connected to a support 503. The head 510 is thereby pivotableabout the axis 508, so that the head can be hinged in a parking positionin the direction of the vehicle. In the case of FIG. 13 , an electricaldrive for the tilting movement is provided. The base 502 as well as thesupport 503 are clad with plastic covers. In the region of the mirrorbase, a mirror foot cover 505 conceals the technical design; the mirrorsupport 503 is concealed by a housing cap 506 and a housing frame 507.The mechanical connection to the outer contour 504 of the vehicle is notdescribed in detail. Since the longitudinal section of FIG. 13 extendsthrough the axis of the mirror foot, the glass adjustment drive is notvisible.

FIG. 14 shows the mirror head from FIG. 13 in a section along they-axis. On the left, the axis of rotation 508 can be seen around whichthe mirror head 510 rotates. The mirror support 503 is rigidly connectedto the housing frame 507 and the housing cap 506 and, during itsmovement against the mirror base, carries with its mirror foot coverthese housing elements. A commercial glass adjustment drive 515 ismounted on the mirror support. This drive is, for example, a drive asknown from EP 2017127, have a half-shell-shaped housing and a turntable512 which can be displaced therewith, which generally has a planarcontact surface for connecting the mirror glass 511. The mirror glass511 is held in a glass support plate 516, as illustrated in FIG. 16 , oris installed on the glass adjustment drive in such a way that it can bepivoted into the desired position by means of two adjusting elements ofthe glass adjustment drive via the rotary table 512. The installation ofthe glass on the glass support plate 516 is provided for reasons offragmentation protection.

FIGS. 15A-15C show views of an aspect of the inventive solution. Themirror glass 511 is no gap between the glass and the housing isinstalled directly in the mirror head. The mirror glass 511 is notpivoted to the housing elements. The mirror glass 511 need not beenclosed or covered by a mirror glass support in this embodiment. Thesplinter protection can be guaranteed also heads by simply applying anadhesive film. The mirror head 510 is seated on a mirror 502. The casecovers the mirror head are either multipart constructed with rack 507and housing cap 506 or consist of a single component. The mirror 502 isprovided with a mirror base. 505. In one embodiment, the mirror base 505a recess 513 into which the lens of a lighting as a perimeter light, aposition light, a warning or an indicator can be integrated.

As a result of the movement, the opening 514 must be larger than thediameter of the mirror foot cover 505. The mirror head 510 moves againstthe mirror base so that the opening 514 must be adapted depending on thedisplacement movements of the mirror head. Since splashing water couldpenetrate into the mirror head through the opening 514, in anotherembodiment. it is provided to close the opening around the mirror footcover with a flexible membrane.

FIGS. 16 and 17 show the mirror housing construction without housingcovers. The mirror base 502 is integrally connected to the mirrorsupport 503′. The glass adjustment drive 515 is firmly installed on themirror support 503′. In this example, the glass adjustment drive 515 isalso a commercial drive with a hemispherical housing and a flatturntable 512. This rotary table 512 is rotated by the drive against thehemispherical housing. A mirror glass carrier 516, which carries themirror glass 511, is mounted on the rotary table 512. In an example, themirror glass carrier 516 is not only a flat plate, but is designed as aplate with a mount 518 connected thereto. The support 518 overcomes thedistance between the turntable 512 of the glass adjustment drive and themirror glass plane with the mirror glass 511.

FIG. 18 shows that the mount 518 does not have a parallel constructionbetween the turntable 512 of the glass adjustment drive and the mirrorglass 511. The turntable 512 is inclined by an acute angle α against themirror surface. For this purpose, the holder is designed as a hollowcylinder whose end faces are cut at different angles.

The mirror glass carrier 516 has clips 517 along the outer edge of themirror glass. These clips 517 are received by counterparts in thehousing cover 506 and serve for connection to the housing cover elementsof the mirror head, such as the housing cap 506 and/or the housing frame507. It does not matter here whether the housing cover is designed inone or more parts. The housing cover is rigidly connected to the mirrorglass carrier 516 and the turntable 512 of the glass adjustment drivewith the clips.

If the glass adjustment drive is activated and at least one of theadjustment elements is controlled, the turntable 512 of the glassadjustment drive 515 rotates against its hemispherical housing and themirror support 503′. With the rotary table 512, the entire structure,consisting of the mirror glass support 516, the mirror glass 511 and thehousing cover 506, rotates against the mirror support 503′ and thusagainst the mirror base 502.

FIGS. 19 and 20 show the mirror foot 502 with mirror support 503′ as aone-piece component. In this exemplary embodiment, the mirror foot 502is formed integrally with the mirror support 503′ made of metal casting.However, it is also possible to use other materials such asfiber-reinforced plastic or other special plastics. The mirror supportand the mirror foot can also be produced in several pieces and thenrigidly connected to one another. Thus, the fastening element 502′serves for mechanical connection to the vehicle, but is rigidlyconnected to the mirror foot 502 in the case of use. It is onlyimportant that no movement is possible between mirror base 502 andmirror support 503′.

In this case, the mirror base 502 is designed as a hollow cylinder inorder to allow the electrical connection to be carried out. The mirrorfoot can be configured in one or more parts. In FIGS. 19 and 20 , themirror foot 502 is constructed in several parts and has an unlockingline 532 which connects the hollow cylinder 502 with the fasteningelement 502′ fastened to the vehicle. The disengagement line 532 isprovided for the emergency and allows the mirror to break off at thispoint in the event of an impact. It will be appreciated that the mirrorfoot assembly is considered to be rigid in use, and the disengagementline is not seen as a possibility of movement for use.

The mirror foot 502 opens into the mirror carrier 503′, which has beendesigned as a triangular plate 530, for example. The carrier plate 530has webs 531, which are provided as screw domes for fastening the glassadjustment drive. In order to accommodate the hemispherical housing ofthe glass adjustment drive, the carrier plate 530 has a central recess533. The semi-spherical housing of the glass adjustment drive then sitsin this recess 533 and extends into the space 534 between the webs 531.For the rigid fastening of the glass adjustment drive, however, anyother method such as clipping, pressing, welding, etc. can also beselected.

The adjustment of the mirror glass by adjusting the entire mirror headagainst the mirror base and the mirror foot cover takes place bydeflecting the two motors of the glass adjustment drive in differentdistances and thus moving the rotary table 512 with the mirror support516 and the mirror glass 511.

FIG. 16 shows the rotational axes of the glass adjustment drive with Aand B. A movement around the B axis controls the position approximatelyby the horizontal, a movement about the A axis moves the mirror headnear the vertical to or from the vehicle. This movement is performedasymmetrically in a preferred embodiment. Since the commercial glassadjustment drives are limited in the deflection and the wish is to applythe mirror head closer to the outer contour of the vehicle in a parkingposition, the mirror glass carrier plate 516 according to FIG. 18 iskeyed with the angle alpha. As a result, the outer edge of the mirrorhead can be pivoted by a greater angle than would be possible in theadjustment path of the glass adjustment drive with a parallelconstruction.

FIG. 21 shows an alternative structure of the mirror adjustment. Theglass adjusting drive 515 is installed with its surface 512 in such away that the surface 512 points in the direction of the housing cap 506.The rotary table 512 of the glass adjusting drive 515 engages eitherdirectly or via a connecting plate 517 on the housing cap, which isrigidly connected to the mirror glass 511.

The electrical connection of the external rearview mirror is effectedvia the hollow mirror base 502. The electrical cables for the glassadjustment drive are carried out and connected directly to the drive.When a heatable mirror glass is used, the contacting of the mirror glassis achieved either directly via the glass adjusting motor 515 or, in theembodiment according to FIG. 9 , separate contacts are laid with theirown electrical supply line.

Another example of an external rear view mirror assembly for a motorvehicle includes a mirror base or foot provided for arrangement on themotor vehicle and a mirror head arranged on the mirror foot as well as amirror glass accommodated in the mirror head and arranged rigidly andfixed non adjustably with respect thereto. This is described in EuropeanPatent No. 2 492 144, which is hereby incorporated by reference in itsentirety for all purposes. At least one articulation is provided betweenthe mirror head and the arrangement of the mirror foot on the motorvehicle, this articulation including a total of two articulation axes,the direction vectors of said articulation axes being independent ofeach other, and where the two articulation axes are associated, jointlyand/or independently of each other. This may allow swiveling at leastthe mirror head from an operating position to a swung-in position andvice versa, and swinging-in at least the mirror head in and against thedirection of motion, as well as adjusting an individual adjustingposition of at least the mirror glass by adjusting the mirror headdepending on, e.g., the seating position and the height of a driver ofthe motor vehicle. In addition, there may be provided a first adjustingdrive driven by an electric motor and associated to a first articulationaxis of the two articulation axes and a second adjusting drive driven byan electric motor and associated to a second articulation axis of thetwo articulation axes.

Referring now to FIG. 22 , rear view arrangement 601 for a motor vehicleincludes of a base 602 provided for the motor vehicle-side arrangementand a head 603 arranged thereon, as well as a viewing means 604, whichis accommodated in the head 603 and which is rigidly and fixedlyarranged relative thereto. At least one articulated joint 605, 606, 607is provided between the head 603 and the motor vehicle side of the base602.

The at least one articulated connection 605, 606, 607 includes a totalof two articulation axes 608, 609, the directional vectors which definethe positions of the two articulation axes in the space are independentof each other.

The two joint axes 608, 609 are in each case joint and/or independent ofone another. A pivoting movement at least of the mirror head 603 from anoperating position into a folding position and vice versa, a folding atleast of the mirror head 603 in and counter to the embodiment shown inFIG. 25 as indicated by the arrow F, as well as a setting of anindividual adjustment position at least of the viewing means 604,depending, for example, on the seat position and the body size of adriver of the motor vehicle.

A first electromotive adjusting drive 610 is assigned to a firstarticulation axis 608 of the two articulated axes 608, A secondelectromotive adjusting drive 611 is assigned to a second articulationaxis 609 of the two articulation axes 608. The exterior rear viewarrangement 601 includes, collectively, the viewing mean 604 as at leastone reflecting or mirrored surface, which can be viewed by a driver ofthe motor vehicle from the vehicle interior, for example, through a sidewindow and provides insight into one or more areas of a vehicleenvironment including in the direction of the road from the driver'sseat.

For example, to avoid glare by backward light sources, the viewing means604 may be a mirror glass and an electrochromic dimming of the mirrorglass can be provided. For this purpose, the mirror glass 604 can bedesigned as an electrochromatically dimmable mirror glass.

The first joint axis 608 and the second joint axis 609 can intersecteach other as shown in FIGS. 26 to 30 . For example, the first jointaxis 608 and the second joint axis 609 intersect at a right angle, as inthe case of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 28 to 30 .

Rear view arrangements 601 are provided. Alternatively, the firstarticulation axis 608 and the second articulation axis 609 can bewind-wise relative to one another as shown in FIGS. 22 to 25 . One ofthe two articulated axes 608, 609 can be as shown in FIGS. 24, 25, 28and 29 , and in the case of the arrangement of the rear view arrangement601 on the side of the vehicle, the rearview arrangement 601 isessentially approximately vertical.

In another example, one of the two articulated axles 608, 609 can be asshown in FIGS. 24, 25, 28 and 29 , and be substantially approximatelyhorizontal when the rear view arrangement 601 is arranged on the vehicleside.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 , it is also possible for the position of thesecond articulation axis 609 in the space, during a pivoting or pivotingmovement, to adjust about the first articulation axis 608. In order tomeet the various possible positions of the joint axes 608, 609, the twoelectromotive adjusting drives 610, 611 are preferably controllableindependently of one another.

If desired, controls commands for the first electromotive adjustingdrive 610 and for the second electromotive adjusting drive 611 aregenerated by a control device 612 which control the latter outwards bypivoting and/or adjusting around the two joint axes 608. Pivoting and/oradjusting by at least one desired pivoting axis of the imaginary axis615, 616, which is identical to the adjusting axis, is executed.

The articulated connection 606, includes the first articulation axis608, is provided for the arrangement of the mirror base 602 on the motorvehicle side. Moreover, in the case of these external rearviewarrangements 601, the articulated connection 607 between the mirror foot602 and the mirror head 603 including the second articulation axis 609is provided.

In the case of the rearview mirror arrangements 601 shown in FIGS. 29and 30 , the articulated connection 605 comprising both the firstarticulation axis 608 and the second articulation axis 609 is providedfor the arrangement of the mirror foot 602 on the motor vehicle side. Inanother example, the articulated connection 605 including both the firstarticulation axis 608 and the second articulation axis 609 is providedbetween the mirror foot 602 and the mirror head 603 of the rearviewarrangement 601.

Depending on the configuration of the rearview arrangement 601, at leastone of the two electromotive adjustment drives 610, 611 can be rigidlyconnected on the vehicle side. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 22, 24,26 and 27 , the first electric adjustment drive 610 is assigned to thefirst articulation axis 608.

The at least one articulated connection 605 can be realized by a balljoint 613 as shown in FIGS. 28, 29 and 30 . This has the advantage thatboth articulated axes 608, 609 are encompassed by the articulatedconnection 605 or are formed by the latter. A further advantage resultsfrom the fact that both the first electromotive adjusting drive 610 isassigned to the first articulation axis 608 and the second electromotiveadjusting drive 610 associated with the second articulation axis 609 canbe rigidly connected on the vehicle side.

The ball joint 613 can be provided, as in FIGS. 29 and 30 , for thearrangement of the mirror base 602 on the vehicle side, or as shown inFIG. 28 for producing the articulated connection 605 between the mirrorhead 603 and the mirror base 602. In FIG. 28 , the mirror base 602 isrigidly arranged on the vehicle side or is provided to the rigidvehicle-side arrangement.

Referring to FIGS. 22-27 , the rearview arrangement 601 can accommodatea repeat flashing light 614, for example, in the mirror head 603.Depending on the configuration, the rear view mirror arrangements 601can be mounted on a door brace 617 (FIGS. 22-25 and FIGS. 28-30 ),preferably from a substantially vertical vehicle surface 618. The rearview assemblies 601 may provide a standing or hanging arrangement of thehead 603 on the base.

The rearview arrangement shown in FIG. 30 shows a particular embodiment.In this case, the head 603 can be completely covered by the viewingmeans 604, and can be a part of the viewing means 604, or encompass it.

Further to the above described examples, preferred dimensions for theradius of curvature may vary between the curved mirror or rear viewmeans and a substantially flat mirror or rear view means. For example,to achieve a wider field of view, the curved mirror may have a radius ofcurvature that is between 0 mm and 1,300 mm. The flat mirror may beentirely flat or may be slightly curved having a significantly largerradius of curvature. In addition, a flat mirror includes a mirror whichprovides a user with a one to one ratio of magnification. That is, theviewed image may be the same dimensions as the actual image with a 2%plus or minus degree of distortion.

In addition, as described in multiple embodiments above, the curvedmirror may be tilted with respect to the flat mirror, or the flat mirrormay be tilted with respect to the curved mirror. Also, both mirrors maybe selectively adjustable by an actuator or manually by a user, beingboth adjustable together and separately with respect to one another. Thepreferred positions for the angle of the one mirror, for example thecurved mirror, with respect to the other mirror, for example the flatmirror, is between +40 degrees and −40 degrees outwardly, inwardly,upwardly, or downwardly. As used herein, the terms outwardly refers totilting the mirror away from the door of the vehicle, inwardly refers totilting the mirror toward the door of the vehicle, upwardly refers totilting the mirror toward the sky, and downwardly refers to tilting themirror toward the surface of the road.

The rearview device can also be equipped with different illuminationdevices.

Referring to FIGS. 31A and 31B, due to the movement of the head assembly6000, a non-moving area for securing a camera 62 may be used. In thisexample, the camera 62 is positioned in a solid, non-moving area whichdoes not move when the head actuates. FIGS. 31A and 31B show the camera62 located in the mirror base assembly 61 fixed on the base frame 65with a camera connector 66. The camera 62 is covered by a base cap 63and the base assembly is covered by a base cover 64 and secured via agasket 67 to a motor vehicle (not shown). FIG. 31B illustrates a sectionview along the line 6 b-6 b of FIG. 31A. In this example, the camera 62is fixed in the mirror base assembly 61 of the rear view means.

In another example, the camera may be fixed to the head assembly 6000.As shown in FIG. 32 , the camera 73 is mounted on the base frame 72 thatis connected to the base assembly 77. Attached to the base frame 72, aswell, is the articulation assembly 70 that moves the mirror headconnected via the upper cradle 71 a and lower cradle 71 b. The uppercasing element 76 a is connected to the upper cradle 71 a, and the lowercasing element 76 b is connected to the lower cradle 71 b. The headassembly is finally locked through a bezel 75 that carries the mirrorglass 80.

The camera 73 is fixed by a camera cradle 74 and is directed to viewthrough an opening in the bezel 75 through the glass 80 and/or to viewunder the mirror through a lens 78, which is installed in the lowercasing element 76 b. As in the configuration of FIGS. 31A and 31B, thecamera of FIG. 32 is secured to a solid, non-moving area that does notmove when the head actuates. The camera 73 is packaged into the caseframe of the head assembly 6000. This provides the camera 73 with anumber of different fields of view; in particular, producing at leastimages of the rear of the vehicle, the side of the vehicle, the front ofthe vehicle, or the underneath the mirror or the vehicle. In theillustrated example, the camera 73 is directed to view behind thevehicle through the glass 80 and underneath the mirror through the lens78.

Referring to FIGS. 33A, 33B, 33C, and 33D a cassette bezel 81 a, 81 b,and 81 c may be used in combination with the head assembly 6000described throughout this application. The head unit may be suppliedwithout the glass, bezel, or scalp being attached, thus allowing forlate configuration and adjustability by the customer. There are a numberof different ways that the cassette bezel 81 a, 81 b, 81 c may beattached, as illustrated in FIGS. 33A, 33B, and 33C. Different glass 80types may be attached to the head assembly in a removable way andprovide the final locking system to control the head assembly retentionand alignment of the mirror head. Different substitutable glass typesinclude, but are not limited to, standard glass or EC glass. Differentsubstitutable bezel types include, but are not limited to, standardbezels or bezels including lighting elements and functionalities.

The cassette bezels 81 a, 81 b, 81 c are single, unitary parts and theyare first latched over the lower casing elements 84 a, 84 b, 84 c and/orrespectively partly in combination with the lower cradles 86 a, 86 b, 86c. Once latched to the lower casing elements 84 a, 84 b, 84 c, thecassette bezels 81 a, 81 b, 81 c are then rotatable about the lowercasing elements 84 a, 84 b, 84 c almost as if hingedly attached. Thecassette bezels 81 a, 81 b, 81 c then tilt into the upper cradles 85 a,85 b, 85 c, to also lock to the upper casing elements 83 a, 83 b, 83 c.FIG. 33D best illustrates the cassette bezels 81 a, 81 b, 81 c asattached to the lower casing elements 84 a, 84 b, 84 c and before beingtilted to attach to the upper casing elements 83 a, 83 b, 83 c.

Referring back to FIGS. 33A, 33B, and 33C, the linking portion of thebezels 81 a, 81 b, 81 c which attaches to the lower casing elements 84a, 84 b, 84 c may have at least three different configurations includingtapered square male-female attachment, as in FIG. 33A, tapered squaremale-female attachment with an extended support area, as in FIG. 33B,and a curved attachment with an extended support area, as in FIG. 33C.Also, the linking portion of the bezels 81 a, 81 b, 81 c which attachesto the upper casing elements 83 a, 83 b, 83 c may have at least threedifferent configurations such as a tapered projection extending throughthe upper cradle 85 a, as in FIG. 33A, a rectangular projectionextending only partly into the upper cradle 85 b, as in FIG. 33B, or arectangular projection extending through the upper cradle 85 c. A numberof other configurations can also be used and the invention is notlimited to these configurations.

FIGS. 34A, 34B, and 34C are diagrams illustrating a support mechanismfor the articulation assembly inside the head assembly. As thearticulation assembly 90 is the mechanical fixing point between themoving mirror head and the fixed base, it needs protection from downwardload exerted on the mirror head. It should be noted that theconfiguration of the articulation assembly 90 in this example isopposite to the example illustrated in FIGS. 8-12B. That is, the movingpart of the articulation assembly 90 of this example is the sphericalportion having the larger diameter shown on the left hand side of thedrawing, and the non-moving part of the articulation assembly 90 is thefixed part with the smaller diameter shown on the right hand side of thedrawing. As can be seen in FIGS. 34A, 34B, and 34C, additional supportis provided by a bracket mounted on the fixed base frame 93 hugging thearticulation assembly 90 with two elongated hole rings, one on eachopposite side of the articulation assembly 90. Through the holes anupper cradle 91 mounted on the articulation assembly 90 and a lowercradle 92 mounted on the mirror head are joined to each other allowingrotational movement inboard/outboard and up/down. The elongated holecase frame rings create the locking mechanism and provide the inboardand outboard stops.

FIG. 34B is a cross-sectional view showing the attachment of the uppercradle 91 to the lower cradle 92 and the hole of the base frame 93 alongthe line 9 b-9 b of FIG. 34A. As shown in FIG. 34B, the upper cradle 91and lower cradle 92 are fixedly attached and move together to one end orthe other end of the hole of the base frame 93 as the mirror is actuatedto move inboard or outboard. Referring to FIG. 34C, a cross-sectionalview showing the attachment of the upper cradle 91 to the lower cradle92 along the line 9 c-9 c of FIG. 34A is illustrated. As the mirror isactuated to move up or down, the upper cradle 91 and lower cradle 92move together within the hole of the fixed base frame 93. The base frame93 is thus a fixed surface which acts to cover the articulation assembly90 and encompass the articulation assembly 90 to support downward orother types of load.

FIG. 35 is a diagram illustrating a top down section view of the headassembly depicting the various head conditions achieved by a single 2axis articulation assembly. A park fold position of the mirror headassembly 700 can be provided using the same articulation assembly 701that is used to set the mirror in drive condition with a single 2 axisglass actuator orientated to utilize the full angular working range, asillustrated in FIG. 35 .

In another example, FIGS. 36A and 36B show an assembly with 2 singleaxis actuators 704 and 705 positioned independently of each other, alongthe mirror head rotational axis, controlled by integrated memorycircuits or a separate memory module 706. Referring to FIG. 36B, across-sectional view along the line 11 b-11 b of FIG. 36A is shown withthe two independent single axis actuators 704, 705 also illustrated. Thetwo independent actuators allow the mirror to be adjustedinboard/outboard and up/down according to the desire of the driver. Aswith the articulation assembly described throughout this application,the two independent single axis actuators 704, 705 are also configuredto allow adjustment of the mirror between an outboard drive condition, astandard drive condition, a park condition, and conditions therebetween.

FIG. 37 is a diagram illustrating a plan view of a fixed glass mirrorassembly with the mirror head in the drive position on the left side andthe mirror head in the fold position on the right side.

Referring to FIG. 37 , a ‘fold’ position/angle can be customer bespokeby utilizing an integrated memory sensors (not shown) within the glassactuator. For example, pre-set mirror positions can be programmedoffering flexibility of the nominal head angles to meet multiple set upconditions. In an example, pre-set mirror angles can be programmed atthe point of assembly. The individual pre set memory function may remainfunctional for all users. This allows for increased versatility infolding functionality of the side-view mirror. Accordingly, the endcustomer has the ability to determine the power fold stop position. Thisis achieved using a memory positioning function system within theactuator which is commonly used to set-up each individual driver'spreferred positions, and can further be used to set bespoke mirror fold& park positions so that the position of the mirror once parked can beset to each users' preference.

FIGS. 38A, 38B, and 38C are diagrams illustrating a fixed glass mirrorassembly with a combined side turn indicator module and blind spotmonitor module as a common assembly.

Referring to FIG. 38A, a Side turn indicator (STI) and Blind SpotMonitor (BSM) are provided as a single lighting module as opposed tobeing two separate lighting modules. The mirror is provided with a glass800 and a bezel 801. Also illustrated in FIG. 38A is an outside view ofthe indicator or light for the Blind Spot Monitor 802 provided in theglass 800 and the Side Turn Indicator 803 at the side of the bezel 801.With the fixed glass mirror assembly the relationship of the BSM moduleto the STI module is now fixed so this allows for the two modules tobecome one common assembly.

FIGS. 38B and 38C illustrate the details of the combine STI and BSMmodules. The STI and BSM modules are combined into one smaller moduleassembly, which may be integrated into the case lower component.Combining the two modules gives the option to control them with the sameor separate PCB/light sources. This also provides lower manufacturingcost, fewer parts and a more simple system that provides system &performance advantages. Referring to FIGS. 38B and 38C, the internalcomponents of the combined STI and BSM module 804 is illustrated and aconnecting rib 805 is provided between the BSM portion and the STIportion of the combined module. A cross section further illustrating theinner potion and connection of the combined module with the bezel 801and the glass 800 is provided in FIG. 38C.

FIGS. 39 and 40 are diagrams illustrating an actuator having motor jacksof different lengths to allow for increased horizontal axis movement anddecreased vertical movement.

Referring to FIG. 39 , motor jacks 900A, 900B are provided in unequallengths in order to allow for increased horizontal axis movement anddecreased vertical movement within the same packaging space.

Increased rotation or movement on one axis only of a normal glassactuator allows fulfillment of power fold movement for a fixed glassmirror. The extended horizontal movement, in other words, the in/outmovement of the mirror allows the use of a single actuator without theneed to have an additional dedicated folding actuator unit to fulfil thefold & park function within the mirror. This provides the advantage ofhaving a single actuator providing the function that two actuatorstypically provide, i.e. removing the need for a dedicated actuator toposition the mirror in the park position. In an aspect, advantagesinclude replacing the noisier power fold actuator which is typicallyused for the fold and park function, allowing the smaller fixed glassmirror to be reduced in size permitting smaller mirrors on cars andreducing vehicle drag values reducing CO2, as well as reducingmanufacturing costs. The longer horizontal travel of the mirror allowsapproximately an additional degree of movement which is a completemovement that satisfies market requirements; for example, 14 additionaldegrees are enabled.

FIG. 40 provides a detailed view of the single actuator which providesan extended horizontal glass actuation and a reduced vertical glassactuation. A cross-section along the axis A-A and the axis G-Gillustrating the extended and reduced angles of travel for mirroractuation.

FIG. 41 is a diagram illustrating attachment of a motor cradle 912 and alower case 910 of a rearview device via turn and snap connectivity.

Referring to FIG. 41 , a quick assembly rearview device is illustratedwhich includes a motor cradle 912 and a lower case 910. The motor cradle912 is attached to the lower case 910 and configured to receive anactuator assembly which is described in more detail below. Theattachment mechanism is a quick and easy attachment mechanism requiringa first step of placing the motor cradle 912 above and on top of thelower case 910 as shown by the large down arrow. A second step involvesturning the motor cradle 912 so that the cradle projections 912 a of themotor cradle 912 engage the tab vertical fixation lugs 910 a of thelower case 910. This is referred to as turn and snap connectivity.

As assembly as described herein allows both the motor cradle 912 and thelower case 910 to be fixed and located around a central axis (pivotaxis) and onto a common plane. This will reduce the tolerance stack backto the motor rotation center and components.

FIG. 42 is a diagram illustrating attachment of an actuator assembly 914and the motor cradle 912 of the rearview device of FIG. 41 .

Referring to FIG. 42 , the actuator assembly 914 is configured toactuate the movement of the rearview device in accordance with theexamples described throughout this application. The actuator assembly914 is configured to easily and quickly attach to the motor cradle 912by pushing the actuator assembly 914 in a receiving portion of the motorcradle and engaging cradle teeth 912 b into corresponding gaps betweenteeth (not shown) of the actuator assembly 914. Thus, the cradle teeth912 b fit in gaps between teeth (not shown) of the actuator assembly914, and the teeth (not shown) of the actuator assembly 914 fit inbetween the gaps between the cradle teeth 912 b.

Such an attachment prevents rotation of the actuator assembly 914 in themotor cradle 912. Small clips may also be used to keep the actuatorassembly 914 fixed with respect to the motor cradle 912 before a cradleclamp 916, described below, is fitted.

FIG. 43 is a diagram illustrating attachment of a cradle clamp 916, themotor cradle 912, and the actuator assembly 914 of the rearview deviceof FIG. 41 .

Referring to FIG. 43 , a cradle clamp 916 may be attached to the motorcradle 912 and actuator assembly 914 to clamp the actuator assembly 914to the motor cradle 912. The cradle clamp 916 should first slide betweenthe actuator assembly 914 and a front portion of the motor cradle 912,as illustrated by the down arrow in FIG. 43 . This results in clampprong 916 b and clamp cam 916 a engaging the front portion of motorcradle 912. This engagement is described in more detail with referenceto FIG. 44 . Subsequently, the cradle clamp 916 should be rotatedtowards the actuator assembly 914 until clamp clips 916 c are engagedwith corresponding retaining projections (not shown) on the motor cradle912. This also causes rotation of the clamp prong 916 b and clamp cam916 a until the clamp clips 916 c are engaged and the actuatory assembly914 is clamped to the motor cradle 912.

FIG. 44 is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the cradle clamp916 at detail A of FIG. 43 after engagement with the motor cradle 912and the actuator assembly 914 of the rearview device of FIG. 41 .

Referring to FIG. 44 , a detailed view of a cross-section of the clampprong 916 b and clamp cam 916 a in the portion between the actuatorassembly 914 and a front of the motor cradle 912 is shown. The clamp cam916 a may be a curved projection with a corresponding receiving portionon the motor cradle 912 to allow rotation of the cradle clamp 916. Thisallows rotating the cradle clamp 916 shut until the clamp clips 916 care clipped onto the motor cradle 912 from the top. Clamping pressuremay be tuned to provide increased loading.

FIG. 45 is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the cradle clamp916, the motor cradle 912, and the actuator assembly 914 of the rearviewdevice of FIG. 41 after attachment.

After assembly of the cradle clamp 916, the motor cradle 912, and theactuator assembly 914, a cross-section illustrates that all threecomponents of the rearview device are securely attached. Once theactuator assembly 914 is located and the cradle clamp 916 is engaged,the motor cradle 912 and an adapter ring of the actuator assembly 914combine to improve stiffness, as illustrated in FIG. 45 .

FIGS. 46 and 47 are diagrams illustrating attachment of a light modulesuch as a side turn indicator (STI) module 918 with the lower case 910of the rearview device of FIG. 41 . Although an STI module 918 isdescribed, any other light module for other functions may be used.

Referring to FIG. 46 , the STI module 918 is first pressed down onto thelower case 910 of the rearview device. As a result, the STI tab 918 aengages the tab receiving portion 910 b of the lower case 910, and thevertical control tabs 910 c are engaged. Once fully pressed down ontothe lower case 910, the STI module 918 can be slid along a curved edgeof the lower case 910 until one or more retaining clips 918 b of the STImodule 918 are engaged.

FIG. 47 illustrates that once slid into place, the STI module 918 islocked in position. The STI module 918 to lower case 910 gap includes aseries of tabs along the lower case which allow locking of the STImodule 918 in place. In other example, the cradle clamp 912 can be usedto lock the STI module 918.

Different functions and devices can be incorporated into and/orcontrolled with the help of rearview devices including especially alsocameras.

Especially useful are functions and devices to enhance, extend and/orsustain the functionality of the rearview device during normal orextreme conditions. This may include heating and/or cooling means,cleaning means such as wipers, liquid and/or gaseous sprays, actuatormeans for moving the rearview device or parts of it, such as for examplea display, a camera system and/or parts of a camera system, includingfor example lenses, filters, light sources, adaptive optics likedeformable mirrors, sensors and/or mirrors, and/or actuator means forinducing movement of other objects, for example parts of the vehicleand/or objects surrounding the vehicle. Furthermore it can includelinear tracks and/or rotating wheels, like for example a filter wheel,for exchanging optical elements, including for example lenses, mirrors,light sources, sensors, adaptive optics like deformable mirrors and/orfilters.

Prominent examples for functions and devices incorporated into and/orcontrolled with the help of rearview devices include also illuminationdevices, for example any kind of light module like an external lightmodule, an internal light module, a front light, a back light, a foglight, a brake light, an acceleration light, a turn signal, a logo lamp,a puddle light, a flash light, a navigation light, a position light, anemergency light, a spotlight, a green light, a red light, a warninglight, a turn signal light module, an approach light, a search light, aninformation light, a display and/or any combination thereof.

Further examples for functions and devices incorporated into and/orcontrolled with the help of rearview devices may include for example atiredness detection system, a microsleep detection system, a distanceand/or velocity determination system, for example a LIDAR (Lightdetection and ranging) system, a blind spot indicator system, a lanechange assistant system, a navigation assistant system, a trackingassistant system, a human-machine interaction system, a machine-machineinteraction system, an emergency and precaution assistant system, likean accident avoiding assistant system, a counter-measures assistantsystem, a brake assistant system, a steering assistant system, anacceleration assistant system, an escape assistant system, including forexample an ejection seat system, a direction indicator, a blind spotindicator, an approach system, a strong braking system, an emergencybraking system, a charging status indicator, a vehicle mode system,including for example a sports mode system, an economy mode system, anautonomous drive mode system, a sleep mode system and an anti-theftsystem, a vehicle locked indicator system, a vehicle stolen indicator, awarning signal system, a temperature indicator system, a weatherindicator system, a traffic light signal system, a fuel status systemand/or any combination thereof.

An example for a rearview device including an illumination devicefulfilling the brake light functions is disclosed in German patentapplication No. 102012108488, filed on Sep. 11, 2012 for REARVIEWASSEMBLY FOR MOTOR VEHICLE and hereby incorporated herein by reference.A light guidance unit for an illumination device used in a back visionsystem is disclosed in German patent application No. 102012104529, filedon May 25, 2012 for LIGHT GUIDANCE UNIT which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference. An illumination device for a rearview device isdisclosed in German patent application No. 102012107833, filed on Aug.24, 2012 for ILLUMINATION DEVICE AND REARVIEW DEVICE which is herebyincorporated herein by reference. A lighting device for a back-visionunit is disclosed in German patent application No. 102012107834, filedon Aug. 24, 2012 for LIGHTING DEVICE AND BACK-VISION UNIT which ishereby incorporated herein by reference. A housing and display device ofa rearview device is disclosed in European patent No. 2738043, filed onDec. 3, 2012 for HOUSING AND DISPLAY DEVICE which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference. An optical light guide for a vehicle lighting unitis disclosed in European patent No. 2947378, filed on May 22, 2014 forOPTICAL LIGHT GUIDE FOR A VEHICLE LIGHTING UNIT which is herebyincorporated herein by reference. A display device of a rearview deviceof a vehicle is disclosed in International patent application No.2015/173695, filed on May 7, 2015 for DISPLAY DEVICE, REAR VIEW DEVICEAND MOTOR VEHICLE and claiming priority to European patent applicationNo. 2944866, filed on May 12, 2014 for OPTICAL UNIT, DISPLAY DEVICE,REAR VIEW DEVICE AND MOTOR VEHICLE INCLUDING THE SAME which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference. Further a light guiding devicefor an illumination device, in particular for a motor vehicle or adisplay device, in a rearview device of a motor vehicle is disclosed inEuropean patent application No. 3045944, filed on Jan. 19, 2015 forLIGHT GUIDING DEVICE which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.Still further a light guiding device for an illumination device,especially for a motor vehicle or an indicator device in a rearviewdevice of a motor vehicle is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 15/228,566, filed on Aug. 4, 2016, for LIGHT GUIDING DEVICE and is acontinuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/000,733,filed on Jan. 19, 2016 for LIGHT GUIDING DEVICE which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference. In addition, an illumination device,particularly for a rear-view device of a motor vehicle and a method forproducing the same are disclosed in International patent application No.2016/147154, filed on Mar. 18, 2016 for ILLUMINATION DEVICE AND METHODFOR PRODUCING AN ILLUMINATION DEVICE and claiming priority to Germanpatent application No. 102015104163, filed on Mar. 19, 2015 forILLUMINATION DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING AN ILLUMINATION DEVICEwhich are all hereby incorporated herein by reference. An improvedrear-view device for a motor vehicle which includes an electronic deviceis disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/256,532, filed onSep. 3, 2016 for ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND REAR-VIEW DEVICE and claimingpriority to European patent application No. 3139711, filed on Sep. 3,2015 for ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND REAR VIEW DEVICE which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference. A lighting device for a rearviewdevice or a footwell device of a vehicle, including at least oneluminous means is disclosed in German patent application No.102015115555, filed on Sep. 9, 2015 for ILLUMINATION DEVICE, REAR VIEWDEVICE, FOOTWELL DEVICE AND VEHICLE which is hereby incorporated hereinby reference. A light module for a light assembly of an exterior rearview device is disclosed in European patent application No. 3138734,filed on Sep. 3, 2015 for LIGHT MODULE, LIGHT ASSEMBLY AND REAR VIEWDEVICE FOR A VEHICLE which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Alighting device for a vehicle component, in particular for a rearviewdevice of a motor vehicle, including a logo lamp and a deflection mirrorare disclosed in European patent application No. 3144183, filed on Sep.13, 2016 for LIGHTING DEVICE, VEHICLE COMPONENT AND VEHICLE and claimingpriority to German utility patent application No. 202015104894, filed onSep. 15, 2015 for LIGHTING DEVICE, VEHICLE COMPONENT AND VEHICLE whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

A camera module can include in particular a plurality of differentoptical elements, including a.o. a variety of sensors and light sources,as well as housing parts.

The housing of a camera module can be made out of plastic, metal, glass,any other suitable material and/or any combinations thereof and can beused in combination with the techniques described below to change ormodify the properties of the material or the material surface. Housingsare for example described in German patent application No.102016108247.3, filed on May 3, 2016 for CLEANING SYSTEM FOR A CAMERAand U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,780, filed Sep. 30, 2016 forTELESCOPING REARVIEW ASSEMBLY WITH CAMERA AND LENS WIPING SYSTEM, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The camera can include for example CCD or CMOS or light field sensors,as for example described in German patent application No. 102011053999,filed Sep. 28, 2011 for DETECTION SYSTEM FOR OPTICAL DETECTION OF OBJECTAND/OR REGION OF SPACE FOR DRIVER ASSISTANCE AND/OR DISPLAY SYSTEMS OFMOTOR VEHICLE, HAS OPTICAL SENSOR ARRANGED AS LIGHT FIELD SENSOR FORDETECTION and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,140, filed on Jan.26, 2001 for MONITORING DEVICE FOR VEHICLES, IN PARTICULAR, MOTORVEHICLES, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,703,925, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference. Also an area of the sensor can be reserved fordifferent purposes, for example to detect a test beam, as described inU.S. Pat. No. 8,031,224, filed on Sep. 9, 2014 for CAMERA SYSTEM, METHODFOR OPERATION OF A CAMERA SYSTEM AND SENSOR DEVICE OF A CAMERA SYSTEM,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The optical elements can be molded or formed from any type of glass orany other suitable material. Glass is here used in the meaning of anon-crystalline amorphous solid showing a glass transition when heatedtowards the liquid state. It includes for example the group of polymericglasses, metallic glasses, silica glasses, but any other suitablematerial showing the glass transition can also be used. The glass can beeither in a flat, wedge, rectangular, cylindrical, spherical, conical,elliptical, and/or circular shape, as described for example in Germanpatent application No. 102016108247.3, and German patent application No.102011103200, filed on May 31, 2011 for LIGHT WINDOW FOR USE AS LIGHTCONDUCTOR FOR TURN INDICATOR IN OUTSIDE MIRROR ARRANGEMENT OF VEHICLE,HAS UNCOUPLING STRUCTURES AT CERTAIN LOCATION OF WINDOW, AND OPTICALFILM WITH MOLDED COATING AND PROVIDED WITH UNCOUPLING STRUCTURES, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference, or have a shapeaccording to different needs or lens types. As non-limiting examplescamera modules can be equipped with lenses, like a wide-angle orfish-eye lens suitable to provide peripheral images, as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,780, and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/090,127, filed on Apr. 19, 2011 for REAR VIEW MIRRORSIMULATION, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,238,434, a Fresnel lens or micro lensesas described in German patent application No. 102011053999, filed Sep.28, 2011 for DETECTION SYSTEM FOR OPTICAL DETECTION OF OBJECT AND/ORREGION OF SPACE FOR DRIVER ASSISTANCE AND/OR DISPLAY SYSTEMS OF MOTORVEHICLE, HAS OPTICAL SENSOR ARRANGED AS LIGHT FIELD SENSOR FORDETECTION, and a TIR (total internal reflection) lens as described inU.S. Pat. No. 8,740,427, filed Sep. 8, 2010 for OPTIMAL LIGHT COUPLINGFOR REAR VIEW DEVICES, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference. Another type of optical elements know to be used in cameramodules are optical fibers, especially in form of fiber bundles andpreferably in form of fiber bundles having an optical head, as describedfor example in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,140. Differentmethods can be used to produce such optical elements, for example asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,460,060, filed on Jan. 30, 2009 for METHODFOR CREATING A COMPLEX SURFACE ON A SUBSTRATE OF GLASS, which is herebyincorporated herein by reference.

The optical elements can be transparent as described for example in U.S.Pat. No. 8,031,224, German patent application No. 102016108247.3, andU.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/242,829, filed Sep. 23, 2011 forCAMERA ARRANGEMENT AND DOOR HANDLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLE, which are allhereby incorporated herein by reference. But the optical elements canalso be semitransparent, as described in U.S. patent application Ser.No. 09/771,140 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/090,127, whichare all hereby incorporated herein by reference. Still further, theoptical elements can be completely or partially coated with differenttype of coatings to realize different effects, such as for exampleanti-reflective coatings as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,031,224,chromium-based reflective coatings as described in U.S. Pat. No.9,181,616, filed on Jan. 24, 2012 for CHROMIUM-BASED REFLECTIVE COATING,and other coatings, for example for polymeric substrates as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/936,024, filed on Nov. 9, 2015 forCOATED POLYMERIC SUBSTRATES and in U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/124,310, filed on Feb. 20, 2015 for DECORATIVE COATINGS FOR PLASTICSUBSTRATES, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.Preferably the optical elements are made of a scratch-proof material asdescribed for example in German patent application No. 102016108247.3,which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. The optical elementscan have uncoupling structures at certain locations of the opticalelements, and an optical film, for example an extrusion film, and amolded coating can be applied as described in German patent applicationNo. 102011103200, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. Acoating to spectrally and stress control is described in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/124,310, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference. Different filters can be integrated into the optical elementssuch as for example gray filters or polarization filters, described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/809,509, filed Jul. 27, 2015 forAPPARATUS FOR LIGHT INTENSITY ADJUSTMENT, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

Electrochromic substrates, polymer electrolytes and other chargeconducting medias may be used for the optical elements based on thedescriptions of European patent application No. 08103179.1, filed onMar. 31, 2008 for PROCESS FOR PRODUCING ELECTROCHROMIC SUBSTRATES ANDELECTROCHROMIC ARTICLES MADE THEREFROM, European patent No. 2202826,filed on Dec. 23, 2008 for POLYMER ELECTROLYTES AND DEVICES CONTAINING,U.S. Pat. No. 7,999,992, filed on Jan. 7, 2005 for CHARGE CONDUCTINGMEDIUM and U.S. Pat. No. 8,537,451, filed on Mar. 26, 2008 for PROCESSESFOR PRODUCING ELECTROCHROMIC SUBSTRATES AND ELECTROCHROMIC ARTICLES MADETHEREFROM, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The camera module can also be equipped with apparatuses for lightintensity adjustment as described for example in U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/809,509 and light level intensifier tubes as described inU.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/771,140, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference. The electrochromic substrates anddevices used in European patent application No. 08103179.1, Europeanpatent No. 2202826, U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,999,992 and 8,537,451, which areall hereby incorporated herein by reference, can also be used for thispurpose as well as a transflector to transmit or reflect light based ona corresponding input signal, as described in German patent applicationNo. 102016106126.3, filed on Apr. 4, 2016 for IMAGING SYSTEM, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

The camera module or a cover adapted to the camera module can be movedusing different actuators, drives and/or a flexible track, as forexample described in German application No. 102016108247.3 and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 15/281,780, which are all herebyincorporated herein by reference.

Still further, the camera module can also include cleaning elements toclean the optical element facing outwards and being exposed to theenvironment. The cleaning element can for example include wipers,brushes, lips, nozzles, fans and similar elements as are described inEuropean patent application No. 14165197.6, filed Apr. 17, 2014 forOPTICAL SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE, CLEANING DEVICE AND VEHICLE COMPRISING ANOPTICAL SYSTEM, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/281,780, Germanpatent application No. 102016108247.3, European patent application No.13163677.1, filed Apr. 15, 2013 for LENS WIPER, European patentapplication No. 15173201.3, filed Jun. 22, 2015 for LENS CLEANING WITHFLEXIBLE ACTUATOR and European patent No. 1673260, filed on Oct. 14,2003 for CLEANING DEVICE which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference. The cleaning devices are not limited in composition, and mayfor example include any fabric, elastomeric, sponge, brush, orcombination of these. Special wiper elements including wiper arms, wiperblades, wiping cloth, wiping tissue and combinations thereof aredescribed in European patent application No. 14165197.6,which is herebyincorporated herein by reference. A wiper element may for example becontrolled according to the method described in European patentapplication No. 130164250.6, filed Apr. 18, 2013 for METHOD FORCONTROLLING A WIPER DEVICE, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference. A reservoir for holding a cleaning liquid as described inEuropean patent application No. 14165197.6, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference. Such a reservoir can be attached to or integratedinto the camera module to provide the cleaning liquid to the opticalelements of the camera module.

Different methods may be used to detect dirt or other obscurationspreventing or reducing the functioning of the camera module, such asdescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,395,514, filed on Jun. 24, 2008 for OPTICALSYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETECTING OPTICAL SYSTEM OBSCURATION IN A VEHICLE,European patent No. 1328141, filed on January 12, for ASSEMBLY HAVING ACONDUCTOR FROM FLEXIBLE MATERIAL AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SUCH ANASSEMBLY, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,031,224, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

Also light sources can be installed or integrated into the camera moduleto increase the visibility of surrounding objects, measure distances anddirections and detect dirt, such as described in U.S. Pat. No.8,031,224, U.S. patent application No. 62/470,658, filed on Mar. 13,2017, 2016 for LIGHT EMITTING MIRROR BEZEL and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/771,140, which are all hereby incorporated herein byreference.

Different heating means, like heating coils, heating devices integratedinto the lens holder or the bezel, or other heating elements can be usedto impede condensation and icing at the surface of optical elements, asfor example described in German patent application No. 102016108247.3,U.S. patent application No. 62/470,658, and German patent applicationNo. 102016107545.0, filed on Apr. 22, 2016 for HEATING DEVICE FOR ACAMERA LENS, which are all hereby incorporated herein by reference.

A watertight seal against weather effects, as well as against theinfluence of washing processes with detergents, solvents and highpressure cleaners can be used on the housing of the camera module asdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/090,127, which ishereby incorporated herein by reference.

In another example, the housing can be made of a body including plasticand conductive material, wherein the conductive material is dispersed inthe plastic material to form a conductive mass to allow a power source,preferably a DC voltage source, to connect via at least two electrodesto the body and heat the body accordingly, as described in German patentapplication No. 102016107545.0, which is hereby incorporated herein byreference.

A conductor track can be embedded within plastic parts of the cameramodule as described in European patent No. 1328141 and U.S. Pat. No.7,083,311, filed on Jan. 12, 2002 for CONDUCTOR OF FLEXIBLE MATERIAL,COMPONENT COMPRISING SUCH FLEXIBLE CONDUCTOR, AND METHOD OFMANUFACTURING SUCH CONDUCTOR, which are all hereby incorporated hereinby reference.

The camera module can include a power harvesting system as described forexample in European patent application No. 09171683.7, filed on Sep. 29,2009 for SELF SUSTAINING REAR VIEW MIRROR, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

A fault detection system for electric consumers as described in U.S.Pat. No. 8,487,633 filed on Jan. 14, 2010 for FAULT DETECTION OFELECTRIC CONSUMERS IN MOTOR VEHICLES, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference, can be used to detect failure of the camera module.

Different types of fixings can be used to fix the camera module to thevehicle or other components, such as for example the snap-fit connectiondescribed in European patent No. 2233360, filed on Mar. 27, 2009 forSNAP FIT CONNECTION IN A REAR VIEW MIRROR, which is hereby incorporatedherein by reference.

Different control means and analyzing devices can be used, such as thecomputation units described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/090,127, German patent application No. 102016106126.3, German patentapplication No. 102011053999, European patent No. 2146325, filed on July16, for Recording Device for Receiving, Processing and Storing ImageFiles in a Vehicle and Method, and U.S. Pat. No. 8,849,104, filed onJul. 16, 2008 for RECORDING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR CAPTURING ANDPROCESSING IMAGE DATA IN A VEHICLE, which are all hereby incorporatedherein by reference. In addition, HDR (high dynamical range) technologycan be used according to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/830,406,filed on Aug. 19, 2015 for REAR VIEW DEVICE FOR A MOTOR and published asUS 20150358590, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that theinvention disclosed herein is not limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed, and is intended to cover modifications within the spirit andscope of the present invention.

REFERENCE SIGNS

-   -   2 head section    -   4 housing section    -   6 lid section    -   8 direction of driving    -   10 electronic unit    -   12 hollow area    -   14 rear view means    -   16 flat portion    -   18 edge portions    -   20 coupling portion    -   22 sealing means    -   24 O-ring    -   26 printed circuit board    -   28 lamp    -   30 first housing part    -   32 opening    -   34 light window    -   36 lighting unit    -   38 optical element    -   40 housing seal    -   42 second housing part    -   61 base assembly    -   62 camera    -   63 base cap    -   64 base cover    -   65 base frame    -   66 camera connector    -   67 gasket    -   70 articulation assembly    -   71 a upper cradle    -   71 b lower cradle    -   72 base frame    -   73 camera    -   74 camera cradle    -   75 bezel    -   76 a upper casing element    -   76 b lower casing element    -   77 base assembly    -   78 lens    -   80 glass    -   81 a cassette bezel    -   81 b cassette bezel    -   81 c cassette bezel    -   83 a upper casing element    -   83 b upper casing element    -   83 c upper casing element    -   84 a lower casing element    -   84 b lower casing element    -   84 a lower casing element    -   85 a upper cradle    -   85 b upper cradle    -   85 c upper cradle    -   85 c upper cradle    -   86 a lower cradle    -   86 b lower cradle    -   86 c lower cradle    -   90 articulation assembly    -   91 upper cradle    -   92 lower cradle    -   93 base frame    -   94 pivot ball joint    -   95 center of rotation    -   100 lid section    -   100′ lid section    -   100″ lid section    -   100′″ lid section    -   120 bezel section    -   120′ bezel section    -   120″ bezel section    -   130′ undercut    -   130″ undercut    -   140′ first rear view means section    -   140″ first rear view means section    -   140′″ first rear view means section    -   160′ second rear view means section    -   160″ second rear view means section    -   160′″ second rear view means section    -   180 rim section    -   200″ groove    -   210′ step    -   220″ groove    -   230″ groove    -   300 first rear view means    -   300′ rear view means    -   300′″ rear view means    -   400 second rear view means    -   400′ rear view means    -   501 rear view means    -   502 base    -   502′ fastening element    -   503 mirror support    -   503′ mirror support    -   504 outer contour    -   505 foot cover    -   506 housing cap    -   507 housing frame    -   508 axis of rotation    -   510 mirror head    -   511 mirror glass    -   512 rotary table    -   514 opening    -   515 glass adjusting drive    -   516 mirror glass carrier plate    -   517 connecting plate    -   518 mount    -   530 triangular plate    -   531 webs    -   532 disengagement line    -   533 central recess    -   534 space    -   601 rear view arrangement    -   602 base    -   603 head    -   604 viewing means    -   605 articulated joint    -   606 articulated joint    -   607 articulated joint    -   608 first joint axis    -   609 second joint axis    -   610 first electromotive adjusting drive    -   611 second electromotive adjusting drive    -   612 control device    -   613 ball joint    -   614 flashing light    -   615 imaginary axis    -   616 imaginary axis    -   617 door brace    -   618 vehicle surface    -   700 head assembly    -   701 articulation assembly    -   702 bezel    -   703 glass    -   704 actuator    -   705 actuator    -   706 memory module    -   707 pivot ball joint    -   708 case frame    -   709 lower casing element    -   800 mirror glass    -   801 mirror bezel    -   802 blind spot monitor    -   803 side turn indicator    -   804 BSM-SDI module    -   805 connecting rib    -   900A motor jack    -   900B motor jack    -   910 lower case    -   910 a vertical fixation lugs    -   910 b tab receiving portion    -   910 c vertical control tabs    -   912 motor cradle    -   912 a cradle projections    -   912 b cradle teeth    -   914 actuator assembly    -   916 cradle clamp    -   916 a clamp cam    -   916 b clamp prong    -   916 c clamp clip    -   918 side turn indicator (STI) module    -   918 a STI tab    -   918 b STI clip    -   1000 base assembly    -   1100 attachment part    -   1200 foot    -   1300 spherical seat    -   1400 carrier part    -   1500 cable exist    -   2000 frame means    -   2100 support part    -   2200 spherical seat    -   2200 a extension    -   2200 b extension    -   2300 fixation part    -   2400 cable exit    -   2500 spherical seat    -   2500 a extension    -   2600 shoulder    -   2700 screw hole    -   2800 rim    -   3000 articulation assembly    -   3200 fixed part    -   3400 moveable part    -   3500 attachment means    -   3600 control system    -   4000 casing    -   4100 upper casing element    -   4200 lower casing element    -   4400 attachment part    -   4400 a part ring    -   4400 b cut-out    -   4500 attachment boss    -   4600 base part    -   4700 spherical seat    -   4800 spherical seat    -   4900 bezel    -   5000 camera    -   6000 head assembly

What is claimed is:
 1. A rearview device for a vehicle, comprising: amoveable mirror head assembly that includes an upper casing element, alower casing element, and a bezel that carries a mirror glass; a baseframe; a motor cradle connected to the upper and lower casing elements;and an actuator assembly attached to the base frame and configured tomove the moveable mirror head assembly connected to the actuatorassembly via the motor cradle; wherein the actuator assembly isconfigured to adjust the moveable mirror head assembly inwardly oroutwardly and upwardly or downwardly so that movement of the moveablemirror head assembly may be controlled using the actuator assembly tochange a field of view in a drive position or to place the moveablemirror head assembly in a park position; wherein the actuator assemblyprovides a range of angular motion of the moveable mirror head assemblythat is greater in the inwardly or outwardly direction than in theupwardly or downwardly direction, and wherein programmable actuatorassembly settings for one or more of the field of view in the driveposition or the park position of the moveable mirror head assembly arepre-set for selection by a user of the rearview device.
 2. The rearviewdevice of claim 1, wherein one or more of the programmable actuatorassembly settings for the field of view in the drive position or thepark position of the moveable mirror head assembly are programmed by auser of the rearview device.
 3. The rearview device of claim 1, whereinone or more of the programmable actuator assembly settings for the fieldof view in the drive position or the park position of the moveablemirror head assembly are pre-programmed at a point of assembly of therearview device.
 4. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the actuatorassembly is configured to adjust the moveable mirror head assemblybetween at least an outboard drive position, a standard drive position,and the park position.
 5. The rearview device of claim 4, wherein theactuator assembly is further configured to adjust the moveable mirrorhead assembly to one or more positions between the park position and theoutboard drive position and/or standard drive position.
 6. The rearviewdevice of claim 1, further comprising a blind spot monitor and a turnsignal indicator, wherein the blond spot monitor and the turn signalindicator are formed as a single unit immovably attached to one anotherand sharing at least one light source.
 7. The rearview device of claim1, wherein the motor cradle includes an upper cradle connected to theupper casing element and a lower cradle connected to the lower casingelement.
 8. The rearview device of claim 1, further comprising a cameraunit secured within a camera cradle that is mounted to the base frame.9. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the camera is positioned toview through at least one of (i) an opening in the bezel, or (ii) anopening in the lower casing element.
 10. The rearview device of claim 9,wherein the camera is positioned to produce images of one or more of arear of the vehicle, a side of the vehicle, or a front of the vehicle.11. The rearview device of claim 1, wherein the motor cradle includesone or more cradle teeth, and the one or more cradle teeth of the motorcradle are configured to engage one or more corresponding gaps formed ina ring of the articulation assembly.